KARACHI: M/s Superior Wire Industries Private Limited approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) against further charges of 5 percent on import of a consignment of high carbon alloy steel wire rods from UAE at the rate of US$480 per metric tonne.
On April 27, 2019, counsel for the petitioner stated in his petition that petitioner imported a consignment of high carbon alloy steel wire rods from UAE at the rate of $480 per metric tonne and payments against the same were made through proper banking channels and electronic import form.
He further argued that on arrival of above-said consignment at Port Qasim Karachi, petitioner through their clearing agent filed goods declaration and submitted that prices of imported goods at the rate of $480 MT, are inclusive of cost and freight i.e CFR terms, which means that the said purchase price already includes the freight charges.
He informed the court that respondents are bent upon to assess the goods in question as per formula provided vide Valuation Ruling 693/2014 by taking price from London Metal Bulletin unlawfully and charging arbitrary addition of 5 percent (for low carbon wire rods) on mere assumptions and then by addition of US$ 45/MT on account of freight charges, hence same is being charged by the respondent again, which is illegal, unlawful and tantamount to double taxation which is not permissible under law by any stretch of imagination. Hence, same is warranted to be set aside and declared void ab-initio.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, collector of Customs Appraisement Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, collector of Customs Appraisement East and West as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare act of the respondents as illegal, malafide and arbitrary and declare that additional charges of 5 percent as illegal and without any legal effect.
He further pleaded the court to restrain them from taking any coercive action against the petitioner till final order in this case.
