KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has allowed several constitutional petitions filed by Sargodha Jute Mills Limited, Madina Jute Mills Limited, White Pearl Mills Limited and others, seeking 100 percent concession for payment of customs duties on the import of raw jute from Bangladesh in accordance with SRO 558 (1)/2004 read with SRO 585 (1)/ 2012.
According to details, a two-member bench, comprising chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulafqar Ahmed Khan, announced the judgment.
Earlier, in their constitutional petition, counsels for the petitioners stated that petitioners, members of Pakistan Jute Mills Association (PJMA), have been importing raw jute from Bangladesh over the years by paying the customs duties. The learned counsels further submitted that between the year 2001-2002 these goods were imported at the rate of 10 percent, however, between the year 2002-2004 custom duty was charged at the rate of 5 percent and in the year 2004-2007, pursuant to SRO 558 (1)/2004, these goods imported from Bangladesh (as a SAARC country) were granted blanket exemption and despite the exemption concerned authorities demanding customs duty illegally.
Citing Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and others as respondents, the petitioners pleaded the court may declare that the petitioners are entitled to 100 percent concessions from payment of customs duties on the import of raw jute from Bangladesh in accordance with SRO 558(1)/2004 dated 01/07/2004 read with SRO 585(1)/2012 dated 01/06/2012 and direct the respondents to refund all customs duties paid by the them so far.
