KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) sought comments from Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) on applications of 12 glass bangles industries over sales tax on Sui gas and electricity bills.
The SHC Judge Justice Munib Akhter was hearing petitions of M/s Al Zarina Glass Industries, M/s Al Shariq Glass Bangle Works, M/s Al Naeem Glass Industries, Al Mustafa Glass Industries and others.
During the hearing, the counsel of SSGC requested for some time to take instructions to file comments. Earlier, counsel of the petitioners stated that petitioners are manufactures of glass bangles which are exempted under section 1e read with item no 29c of sixth schedule of sales tax, act 1990, .
According to the petitioner, they are already paying gas and electricity dues along with taxes regularly, however FBR Islamabad issued SRO 509c/2013 on 12th June 2013 forcing the petitioners mills to pay an extra amount of sales tax at the rate of 5% of the total billed amount of gas and electricity which is a violation of the tax payable under section (1) of section 3 of the sales tax Act 1990. The petitioners mills neither registered in sales tax nor on active taxpayers list maintained FBR.
The petitioner’s Counsel prayed to the SHC to direct the respondents not to levy and charge further tax at the rate of 2% and extra tax at the rate of 5%.