KARACHI: A customs appellate bench of Sindh High Court (SHC) comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Mrs Ashraf Jahan allowing an interim arrangement ordered release of Asphaltr Paver machines.
The bench earlier heard petitions filed by Sachal Engineering Works, Zarghon Enterprises, Ali Nawaz & Hussain Engineering Company and Eastern Construction Company through counsel Ms Dil Khurram Shaheen advocate.
The counsel submitted that PCT heading was main contentious issue as the Pakistan Customs assessed the imported machinery under a PCT heading which renders the import restricted. The counsel also questioned the applicability of a clarification sought by the respondent custom officials from Ministry of Commerce which communicated that Commercial importers can import the disputed consignment after obtaining a condonation and special permission.
The petitioner companies are registered construction companies with a proven profile and hence the clarification also inapplicable.
The bench after hearing the sides as interim arrangement ordered release of Asphalt Paver machines on payment of custom duty, taxes etc with Nazir of SHC while further proceedings were put off to an unspecified date.
The Asphalt paver machines were released previously but suddenly since Nov 2017, these were detained on ground that under recent import policy, their imports is restricted.
