ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO), Justice (Retd) Munir A Sheikh, on Saturday asked the Karachi Port Trust to refund the amount of demurrage charges collected from the complainant in violation of law.

The decision came on the complaint of M/s Nizami Wire Industries against the KPT demurrage charges, which according to the complainant should have been waived by the KPT on the basis of delay and detention certificate issued by the Customs.

The verification of the imported rods through laboratory testing resulted in piling up of demurrage charges amounting to Rs0.38 million being collected from the complainant by the KPT authorities.

The ombudsman, in his decision asked the KPT to accept the delay and detention certificate issued by the customs and refund the collected amount to the complainant.

The compliance be reported to the FTO office within 30 days, added the ombudsman.