KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has sought comments from tax authorities and deputy attorney general on a petition filed by 19 importers against determination of customs values of “ceramic and porcelain tiles” over and above 12.5 percent of the Valuation Ruling No 874/2016 by Director General of Valuation.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yousaf Ali Saeed, was hearing the petition.
Earlier, counsel for the M/s RS Trading, M/s Ceramic Lines, M/s Umer Trading Company, M/s Syed Hidayettullah Brothers, M/s Marhaba Marble & Granite Tiles, M/s Karachi Tile Home, M/s Brite Catre, M/s G-Commodities, M/s T-Z Trading Corporation, M/s Yousaf Brothers, M/s Khalid Trading Company, M/s NP Enterprises, M/s Seguro Enterprises, M/s FL Enterprises, M/s Khalid Sanitary Supporter, M/s A.S & Sons, M/s Aman Ceraimic, M/s Nan Trading stated that they are engaged in import and trade of goods having discription “ceramic and porcelain tiles”. They were informed by the customs authorities that Director General, Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Customs House Karachi has started revision proceedings under section 25 D wherein the DG has no jurisdiction to define customs values of the subject goods over and above 12.5 percent in accordance with valuation ruling no 874/2016 dated 22/06/2016.
Citing chairman Federal Board of Revenue, Collector of Customs Collectorate West, Collector of Customs M Collectorate East, Collector of Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim and Directorate General of Customs Valuation, Customs House Karachi as respondents, petitioners pleaded the court to declare the act of the respondents as illegal, mala fide and arbitrary, they also pleaded the court to restrain the customs department from collection of enhanced valuation till final decision of their petition and any coercive measures against the petitioner.
