KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs department to file para wise comments on a petition filed by M/s Al-Sajr Corporation Private Limited against detention of imported goods detained by customs officials.
On 31 January 2020 a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner firm is involved in import and export of stainless steel (motor cycle engine and pairs) adhesive sucker paper gun resin, gun copal, seed lac, metal scrap, non-ferrous alleys, plastic maudling compounds, etc and firm has imported tamarind seed from Myanmar Burma for industrial use and paid all the taxes and duty packing list and invoice of purchase.
He further submitted that however at the time of filing application from-I permit to import plants or plant products in the box of purpose of import it was mistakenly ticked consumption instead of others (industrial use), due to aforesaid reasons the customs department has rejected the shipment of Tamarind with seeds on the basis of its import i.e human consumption.
He said that the rejection order which says that it has clearly mentioned that the shipment not fit for domestic agriculture and natural resources, petitioner in order to satisfy the customs officials requested report from ministry of science and technology government of Pakistan Lahore, the test report has supported the version of petitioner that the said shipment is of for the industrial purpose and that the Tamarind seed is used in the industry for the tanning and coloring of leather, preparation of ink, fixing of dyes, Tamarind gun powder is used as sizing material in textile, jute, paper and leather industries used in as blinder in paper glue, sawdust briquettes, plywood industry and brick manufacturing.
Citing secretary Ministry of food, security and research department of plant protection and Collector of Customs East as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to direct the respondents to release the shipment with satisfaction that it will be used for the industrial purpose only.
