LAHORE: In a significant development, on a petition filed by M/s One Impex, Lahore challenging Valuation Ruling 1939/2024 and represented by renowned lawyer Mian Sajid, Lahore High Court has raised serious concerns over the procedural validity of Valuation Ruling No. 1939/2024 issued by the Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Karachi.
During the hearing, the petitioner argued that the prescribed process of hearing stakeholders before determining the Customs Value was not followed.
Notably, the court observed that the officer responsible for the valuation neither conducted the hearings nor interacted with the stakeholders, rendering the mandatory hearing process an “illusion.”
The petitioner’s counsel pointed out discrepancies in the departmental procedure, stating that while meetings were noted to have occurred on August 28 and September 4, 2024, the officer issuing the ruling had already been transferred by the time the hearings were allegedly conducted. This raised doubts about the transparency and legality of the valuation process.
In its ruling, the Lahore High Court directed the Customs Department to ensure that the petitioner and all stakeholders are provided with a fair opportunity to present their case. The court forwarded the petition to the Director General (Valuation), instructing that it be treated as a review petition under Section 25D of the Customs Act, 1969. Additionally, the implementation of the valuation ruling has been put on hold until the review process is completed.
The court emphasized that the final decision must align with the “values, description, and specification of goods, law, and rules” and must be concluded within 30 days. Meanwhile, the subject goods may be provisionally released, contingent on the submission of guarantees or banking instruments.
This case highlights ongoing challenges in ensuring procedural fairness in customs valuation processes and may have far-reaching implications for the business community relying on transparent trade policies.
