KARACHI: M/s Nadeem Agencies has moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) seeking release order for its imported perishable goods (Sunflower Cooking Oil) which was stocked at Karachi Port due to current pandemic situation of COVID-19, lockdown and closure of Afghan border.
On 13 July 2020, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner imported and purchased the consignment of Malaysian origin cooking oil which was actually for Afghan importer, due to current pandemic situation of COVID-19, lockdown and closure of Afghan border and the perishable consignment stocked at Karachi Port, the petitioner purchased the said consignment, got amendment of consignee name and address and filed goods declaration for the clearance of consignment in Karachi, against the payment of leviable taxes of Rs24,21,940.
He further submitted that however, customs officials issued show cause notice dated May 08, 2020 in respect of under detained perishable goods (Sunflower Cooking Oil) of the petitioner, in which invoked that the consignment is not importable/ banned vide S. No 13 of Part-I of Appendix-B of the Import Policy Order 2016 that the ingredient in Urdu language not printed on the goods under vide SRO No 237(i) 2019.
He further said that petitioner submitted the reply of the said notice in which stated that the goods already imported for muslim country Afghanistan and goods are halal and fit for human health and the Halal & Health certificate produced therein by the petitioner, however, customs officials confiscated perishable goods (Sunflower Cooking Oil) of the appellant and also imposed the unjust personal penalty of Rs100,000.
Citing chairman FBR, collector of Customs Appraisement East as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to allow the instant petition under special circumstances and direct them to release the perishable goods after payment of duty and taxes.
