KARACHI: M/s Navtakia International’s owner Muhammad Saleem has approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) against detention of 20 containers of kindey beans total quantity of 480 MT imported from Uganda stopped by Adviser and Director General, Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Plant Quarantine Division.
On 27 January 27, 2020, counsel for the petitioner stated that the petitioner import 20 containers of kindey beans having total quantity of 480 MT from Uganda and the port of loading of Djibouti as Uganda doesn’t have its own seaport and using the seaport of his neighboring country and also paid duty and taxes amounting to Rs2,121,424.
He further submitted that at the time of arrival of shipment and before unloading the same the petitioner has to submit the official certificate (Phytosanitary Certificate) or the declaration of the exporter or shipper to the effect mentioned in sub-rule (1) of rule 8 of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules, 1967 along with other documents for getting plant protection release order.
Counsel said that same official certificate which was received from the exporter has been submitted with other required documents by the petitioner to the customs officials at the time of making applications for getting plant protection release order.
He stated that however, he argued that on December 31, 2019, respondents inform the petitioner that the submitted certificate found fake and order to confiscated/ destroyed or re-shipped the consignments.
Citing the Adviser and Director General, Ministry of National Food Security & Research, Plant Quarantine Division, the terminal manager, Qasim International Container Terminal Port Qasim, Safmarine Container Lines and Maersk Pakistan Pvt Ltd as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that by directing them to treat the consignment without Phytosaniry Certificate on the basis of valid import permit as mentioned in sub-rule (6) of rule 8 of the Pakistan Plant Quarantine Rules 1969.
He further pleaded the court to direct the respondents to refer the goods for the Qalandra and lab test and after satisfactory report release order may kindly be issued.
