KARACHI: The dispute between two gigantic federal organizations – Pakistan Customs and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)- is likely to end in upcoming days, as the Sindh High Court (SHC) has finally reserved the verdict into the case contesting between these two federal entities on taxation issue.
As per details, Pakistan Customs had raised demand of over Rs 1 billion in share of sales tax against the PIA, Shaheen Air International and Air Blue, on which airlines moved to the court.
SHC Judge Muneeb Akhtar after hearing the view points of legal team of both the contenders i.e. Pakistan Customs and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), previous week had reserved the verdict for indefinite period. The sources informed Customs Today that the SHC would release its verdict into the said case in next few weeks.
It may be mentioned here that both the federal organizations a year ago moved the court over taxation issue in which the Pakistan Customs was of the view that the PIA and other private airlines i.e. Air Blue and Shaheen International Airlines were not paying billions of rupees legitimate leviable taxes to the federation for last three years or so. However, the airlines authorities were of the view that the leviable taxes were not implemented on them as they are not importing the airbuses and aircraft, but taking them on lease from United Kingdom, Canada and other foreign countries, so that the tax ratio was not implemented on them.
Although, the Customs authorities informed the court that the same legitimate taxes had been paid by those international airlines that are PIA, Air Blue and Shaheen Air International till the year 2011 and afterwards, the said airlines were not paying the leviable taxes to the federation.
Both the main contenders of the federation were defending their arguments for last one year or so, while SHC Judge Muneeb Akhtar in previous week after conducting final hearing and listened the view points of both the parties and reserved his verdict. The sources informed Customs Today that the SHC in next upcoming days will release its verdict in the case. The authorities concerned of Pakistan Customs are very hopeful that the verdict of the case would come in their favour and a huge amount in billions of rupees in share of taxes will come into the national exchequer.
