KARACHI: M/s AKK Enterprises (SMC-PVT) Limited and M/s Al-Majeed Ibrahim Steel Ind (Private) Limited have approached the Sindh High Court (SHC), challenging alleged wrong assessment of the consignments of “hot rolled alloy steel deformed bars ” at higher rate ranging from $400 to $500 per metric ton.
In their constitutional petition, the petitioners stated that during the course of their business have imported the consignments of “hot rolled alloy steel deformed bars” from China and after the all payments have been made through banking channel dated April 7, 2016 and April 4,2016 respectively. After that importers filed goods declarations under section 79 of the customs act. 1969 and requested the respondents for release of the consignments.
According to the petitioners, however, instead of releasing consignments, it was informed that the respondents are bent upon to assess in goods at higher rates ranging from $400 to $500 per metric ton as they have doing so in various other cases of identical goods, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and in clear disregard to the principal mentioned of customs valuation as mandates under section 25 (1) of the Custom Act. 1969.
Importers said that consignments are lying within port area and are liable to heavy port charges of detention and demurrage, in case of customs clearance of the consignments is delayed, whereas, the respondents under apparent non-bonafides are bent upon to harass the petitioners by assessing the goods at higher rate in disregard and violation to the mandate, contained in section 25 (1) of the custom act 1969. The price of deformed bars, paid by the petitioners are $361 per metric ton clearance and forwarding Karachi and freight actually paid by the shipper at the rate of $201 per metric ton from China to Pakistan.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, Chief Collector of Customs, Collector of Customs Model Customs Collectorate, East as respondents, petitioners pleaded the SHC may direct the respondents to release the consignments of the petitioners and restrain them from taking any coercive measures against the petitioners.
