KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) directed customs officials to make sure to file their para wise comments on a petition filed by Mushtaq Ahmed, proprietor of M/s Unique Wire Lahore against additional charges on import of a consignment of high carbon alloy steel rods imported from China.
On May 15, 2019, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner has imported a consignment of high carbon alloy steel rods from China at the rate of $525 and filed goods declaration according to law.
He further argued that however, petitioner is seriously aggrieved by impugned formula under the captioned valuation ruling by addition of 5 percent (for low-carbon wire rod) and further addition of $66/MT (for high-carbon wire rod) for which, no cogent and plausible reason has been given by the respondents.
He said that petitioner is further aggrieved by addition of freight charges at the rate of $45/MT as to ascertain the custom value, vide impugned valuation ruling, which is again unreasonable and unjustified, hence, unacceptable to petitioner.
Prices of imported goods at the rate of $525/MT as above, are inclusive of cost and freight CFR terms, which means that the said purchase price already includes the freight charges, hence same is being charged by the respondents again, which is illegal, unlawful and tantamount to double taxation which is not permissible under law by any stretch of imagination.
Citing secretary Revenue Division, Collector of Customs Appraisement East and West as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that act of the respondents as illegal, malafide and arbitrary and direct them to release his consignment immediately.
