KARACHI: M/s I.S Traders has moved the Sindh High Court (SHC) and filed a petition against enhancement of valuation from US$1.20 to 2.02 per kg of consignments of imported modified acrylic solid surface sheets.
On 10 September 2020, counsel for the petitioner argued that petitioner has imported modified acrylic solid surface sheets 22,860 kg from China and filed goods declaration dated Dec 9, 2019 and paid duties and taxes of Rs46,28,141.
He submitted that officials of the customs department assessed the goods on US$ 2.02 per kg whereas others importers of the same item is assessed at the US$ 1.20 per kg, the petitioner consignment provisionally assessed against secured differential amount of duties and taxes US$ 1.20 per kg and US$ 2.02 per kg on the basis of irrelevant data, without any cogent evidence/ specific reasons under protest petitioner deposited pay-order of Rs1,83,0070 against provisional assessment.
He argued that respondents discriminatory behavior with the petitioner regarding to the enhance the value of the goods from US$ 1.20 per kg to US$ 2.02 per kg the second consignment of the same goods modified acrylic solid surface sheets 24.03600 MT from China and after made cash payment of Rs1,20,286 and deposited post cheque of Rs55,68,711 as a security amount, because huge financial losses towards port demurrage and containers detention charges incurred by the petitioner.
Citing secretary revenue division and collector of customs collectorate East as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court to direct them to release the second consignment @ US$ 1.20 per kg and direct them will be assessed at the rate of US$ 1.20 per kg of the petitioner consignments which are in pipeline/ on voyage to be excepted at Karachi sea port in near future.