KARACHI: The custom authorities informed the Sindh High Court (SHC) that NTN of the M/s Alfa Cargo Services has been unblocked and the consignment of the petitioner has been released.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Irfan Sadat Khan and Justice Muhammad Humayun Khan, was hearing the constitutional petition filed by M/s Alfa Cargo Services seeking restoration of its national tax number (NTN) seized by customs authorities.
During the hearing, counsel for the respondents informed the court that this petition has been in fructuous because NTN of the petition which was blocked, has been de-blocked and the consignment has been released which aspect has been affirmed by the counsel for the petitioner, therefore, court disposed of the petition.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner had stated that petitioner is engaged in the business of customs clearing and forwarding business and is holding national tax number (NTN).
Counsel had argued that the goods by the importer based in Afghanistan are handled and dealt with under the transit trade agreement 2010 and SRO 601 (1) 2011 dated 13/06/2011 and petitioner’s company has always discharge its functions honestly and in accordance with the statutory provisions of law.
Counsel further informed the court that petitioner is aggrieved by the action being initiated by the additional director directorate general of transit trade dated 22/11/2015 and petitioner’s company has been blocked on the basis of arbitrary and illegal contention that the petitioner had failed to provide duplicate and quadruplicate copies of good declaration, mate receipt, endorsement of cross boarder certificate and T-1 document of Pakistan custom on behalf of Afghan importer for revalidation or release of insurance guarantee (IGS).
He had said that due to said illegal blocking of NTN by the respondents, the petitioner is suffering huge financial losses and various consignments of Afghan importer are lying the port.
Citing Additional Director Directorate General of Transit Trade, Collector of Custom Model Custom Collectorate of Appraisement West and Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may restoration of its NTN.