KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to the tax authorities and deputy attorney general on a constitutional petition filed by Muhammad Yahya, seeking exemption from duty and taxes on its consignments of “cheese”.
While hearing of the petition, a two-member bench comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Saeeduddin Nasir also directed them to file their respective comments on the next hearing. The court also adjourned the hearing of the case for November 1, 2016.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that he imported three consignments of food stuffs including cheese and filed goods declarations (GDs) on October 10, 2016.
According to the importer, despite cheese being exempted from payment of sales and taxes in terms of the sixth schedule to the Sales Tax Act 1990, officials of the customs authorities imposed thereupon the standard sales taxes rate.
Citing sectretary Revenue division, Chief Collector Appraisement South, Collector of Customs East, Collector of Customs Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that the cheese is exempted at import stage from imposition/ payment of sales tax in terms of articles no 79 and 80 of the sixth schedule of the Sales Tax Act 1990.
Petitioner also pleaded the SHC may direct the respondents to release his consignments and restrain them from taking any coercive action against the importer.
