KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the Customs Department and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by M/s Bhoja’s Trading, challenging enhancement of valuation of cooking port, fry pan, etc from $3.4kg to $5.5kg.
While the hearing of petition, a two- member bench headed by Justice Munib Akhtar also directed them to file their respective para wise comments on the next date of hearing.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that it is engaged in the lawful business of import of general merchandise from various sources around the world, including Thailand, Dubai and is aggrieved by the illegal and mala fide action of respondents, whereby, they have arbitrary re-assessed the Goods Declaration and are demanding Rs 2.22 million for the consignment already released on February 26, 2018.
The counsel argued that petitioner imported a consignment of cooking ware items including cooking port, fray pan etc from Thailand transaction value of US$ 3.40 kilogram which was re-assessed and enhanced at the rate of $ 5.50 kg illegally and unlawfully.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West, Deputy Collector of Customs Collectorate Appraisement West as respondents, importer pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, he also pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this petition.
