KARACHI: A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the customs officials on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Zaka against valuation ruling no 1466/2021 for enhancement of valuing of imported consignment of shoes, slippers, sandals, chappals, and joggers etc of low-end brands.
On 16 February 2021, during the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is engaged in import and trading of miscellaneous products including shoes, slippers, sandals, chappals, and joggers etc of low-end brands, the said shoes are mainly, imported from China and Thailand to cater the needs of poor people of Pakistan.
He said that the shoes assorted low-end imported by the petitioner are specifically designed to cater the requirement of mostly South Asian with less per capita income.
He further stated that to the utter dismay of petitioner and other aggrieved importers of aforementioned goods, the directorate general of customs valuation Karachi issued a valuation ruling no 1466/ 2020 in suppression of previously applicable VR 1405 and unjustifiably enhanced the customs values of the shoes that has put a definite unlawful stain on the business of petitioner.
He argued that being aggrieved with the issuance of impugned valuation ruling no 1466/2020 with exorbitant customs values not supported with the provisions of section 25 of the customs act, 1969 and methods laid down thereunder, the petitioner filed revision petition under section 25D of the customs act, 1969, however appeal is pending before the custom’s appellate tribunal Karachi.
Citing secretary Revenue Department, Chairman FBR, DG Valuation, Chief Collector of Customs South and North as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to suspend the operation of impugned VR 1466/2020 till the final disposal of appeal filed before the customs appellate tribunal and direct them to allow the provisional release the consignments of the petitioner in accordance with section 81 of the customs act, 1969 till the final determination of appeal pending before the customs appellate tribunal Karachi.
