KARACHI: M/s Maqsood Industries Private Limited has approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a constitutional petition seeking release of its consignment of cement products without payment of demurrage charges and container rent due to pandemic COVID-19 situation.
On 9 October, 2020, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is a cement manufacturing company, the cement industry contributes in the gross domestic production (GDP) thousand products, it is creates employment opportunities for thousands of people and generates huge revenue for the government in the form of taxes, it is directly and indirectly contributes in the economic development of Pakistan.
He further submitted that petitioner has imported 26 sets in 07 containers of cement related goods from Korea and which are pending process for clearance at various port terminal at Karachi, including SAPT, and being dealt with by various customs authorities having jurisdiction over these port terminals under section-14 –A ibid, these consignment are presently being dealt under jurisdiction of East Wharf, West, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and Air Freight Unit (AFU Import) Karachi.
He argued that due to prevailing pandemic of COVID-19 the customs clearance of the consignments has been delayed, relevant to mentioned every citizen of China manifested unprecedented restraint and social responsibility and everything became standstill and every financial and banking institutions was well as manufacturer-cum-exports virtually stopped proceedings on work including transmission of shipping documents and LCs to the outer world and hence subsequently the LCs were modified.
He stated that our country also faced the similar pandemic situation and lock down has been enforced by the provisional and federal government, this is the reason, the government in exercise of powers under section 14A of the customs act, 1969 was pleased to extend the free days relations regarding the imposition of demurrage/ storage charges by the terminal operators, therefore, petitioner seeks relief for the release of his consignments without payment of any demurrage charges and container rent.
Citing as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may graciously be pleased to accept the petition and direct the respondents to release the consignments of the petitioner in terms of the respective delay and detention certificates issued by the concerned deputy collector of customs, appraisement without payment of demurrage charges and container rent.
