KARACHI: The Directorate General of Customs Valuation has revised the customs value of domestic/ household sewing machine vide Valuation Ruling No 968/2016 under Section 25-A of the Customs Act, 1969.
Customs values of sewing machines were earlier determined vide Valuation Ruling No 376/2011, dated September 26, 2011. The valuation ruling required revision in line with the prevailing prices in the international market. Therefore, the directorate initiated an exercise for determination of customs values of domestic sewing machines.
A meeting with stakeholders was held on November 10, 2016. Importers had been requested to furnish the documents, including invoices of imports during last three months showing factual value, websites, names and e-mail addresses of known foreign manufacturers of the item, copies of Contracts made / LCs opened during the last three months showing the value of item in question and copies of sales tax invoices issued during last four months showing the difference
Meanwhile a complaint was also received from All Pakistan Cottage & Small traders Association Lahore, whereby they pointed out under Invoicing in imports from India.
Meeting was scheduled on the date as already conveyed to the stakeholders. Importers, manufacturers Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) and others were invited to participate.
Certain importers present during the stakeholder meeting, submitted some documents in support of their contentions. Representatives from KCCI and All Pakistan Cottage and Small traders Association Lahore also attended the meeting. The arguments put forth by both sides were very divergent; manufacturers asserted that values may be increased whereas importers stated that internationally values have declined. Cogent and plausible evidences in support of their contentions were not presented. After conducting market survey and proper considerations, the department issued latest values of the sewing machines.
