KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday sought comments from the deputy attorney general on a petition filed by M/ s Saritow Spinning Mills (Private) Limited over phytosanitary certificate on consignment of raw cotton.
A division bench of the SHC headed by Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah was hearing the petition. During the hearing, the deputy attorney general requested for two weeks time to submit para wise comments. While accepting his request, the court adjourned the hearing until May 27, 2016.
Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel stated that petitioner imported 105 matric ton raw cotton at $144,670 on 10th March 2016 from Singapore. However, the respondents stopped the said consignment and on an application, examined the said goods and certified that goods are free from injurious diseases on 18th April 2016.
According to the petitioner, the phytosanitory certificate already issued by the government of India confirmed that the goods are free from pesticides, soil and diseases. But the respondents are demanding certificate from Singapore which is illegal.
Citing the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Director General Department of Plant Protection (DPP) as respondents, the petitioner pleaded SHC to declare that non issuance of release order as illegal.
