KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities on a constitution petition filed by M/s Abbasi Trading Company against the valuation of consignment of “PVC hollow wall panel at $1.20 per kg instead of $0.90/kg.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhter and Justice Anwar Hussain was hearing the petition.
During the hearing, counsel for the director of Customs Valuation and Customs Appraisement-East sought some time for filing para-wise comments. Therefore, the court adjourned the hearing for October 04, 2016 and directed the respondent to file comments on next date of hearing.
Earlier, petitioner’s counsel stated that petitioner imported PVC hollow wall panel from China and filed goods declaration for clearance at the rate of $0.7080 per kg, however, the officials of the customs refused the declared CIF value.
According to the petitioner, whereas all others importers’ consignments were assessed at the rate of $0.90 per kg as per value issued by the Customs Valuation on July 07, 2015. Whenever, the petitioner protested against dissemination action on the basis of similar & identical item of same origin country.
He argued that state action ensures fairness and equality of treatment where is discrimination it needs to prove others importer same item assessed on $0.90 per kg, why petitioner consignment of the same product has been assessed at the rate of $1.20 per kg.
Citing Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, Customs Valuation director and Customs Appraisement-East as respondents, the petitioner pleaded the SHC may declare that impugned value dated March 31, 2016 ,as illegal and not total discharged and violation of Section 25 of the Customs Act, 1969.