KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has ordered conditional release of M/s Gamalux Oleochemicals (Private) Limited’s consignment of palm acid oil.
A division bench of the SHC directed the importer to deposit the differential amount of duty and taxes with Nazir of the court until the matter is adjudicated.
Barrister Asad Khan, the counsel for the petitioner, submitted that his client imported around 3,000 tons of palm acid oil from Malaysia. Subsequently, the importer through its clearing agent filed GD along with a certificate of origin, claiming exemption from duty under SRO 1261 (1) of 2007 and Malaysia Pakistan Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement for Closer Economic Partnership (MPCEPA).
However, he maintained, the consignment was detained and the customs department contradicted the declaration made by the petitioner, contending it was not entitled to the benefit of the SRO. Therefore, he prayed to the Court to issue directives for the customs authorities to provide the benefit of the above-mentioned SRO. The Court was requested to order provisional release of the consignment till the matter is disposed of.
