KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has adjourned hearing of two identical petitions challenging assessment of consignments under valuation guidelines instead of valuation rulings.
A divisional bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Anwar Hussain, adjourned the hearing of petitions, filed by RH Enterprise, importers of mobile chargers.
The petitioner quoted the SHC’s previous judgment that the court has already declared “Valuation Guidelines” illegal and hence his consignment be assessed and cleared as per Valuation Ruling. He maintained that by assessing the consignment on Valuation Guidelines, respondent Pakistan Custom Valuation is demanding customs duty 600 per cent more.
He requested the court to order that his consignment be assessed on the basis of 90 days data. R.H. Enterprises petitioner maintains that it imports mobile phone chargers from China and Customs was clearing the consignment at a rate of $ 12 cents per piece but suddenly they issued a Valuation Guideline and raised custom duty, taxes to 70 cents per piece which translate into 500-600 per cent raise.
While hearing another identical petition filed by Yahoo Computers which imported HDML cable, the bench adjourned hearing till Aug 22 asking both the sides to seek instructions from the respective clients.
The petitioner Yahoo Corporation, importer of HDML cable maintains that previously Customs was taking a duty of $2 per cable but suddenly started charging US $ 9 per cable which again is 400-500 per cent raise.
