KARACHI, Sept 14: A division bench of High Court of Sindh, comprising Justice Shabbir Ahmed and Justice Muhammad Mujeebullah Siddiqui, on Tuesday dismissed six identical appeals filed by importers of pens and other stationery items challenging upward revision of valuation based on sale price in the market.

The petitions were filed by M/s Fine Traders, Javed Akhtar and Company, Saco Traders, Brothers Pen Company and King Pen Company against revised valuation for the purpose of levying custom duty.

The valuation was revised after local manufacturers lodged a complaint with FTO that importers are declaring value of items as low as possible in connivance with the officials of the department.

The low valuation is resulting in less recovery of custom duty and besides leaving the local manufacturers un-competitive. They also alleged that once goods or items are released, the same are sold at higher price in the market fleecing the consumers.

The FTO, through a verbal order, directed the Collector Appraisement to look into the complaint on which a joint team was constituted which surveyed the market and found the complaint to be correct.

The customs department then raised the valuation and asked the importers to deposit the differential amount against which the present petition was filed. The bench, after hearing the counsel for importers, counsel for Customs Raja Muhammad Iqbal and others, disposed of the petitions directing the petitioners to produce evidence before the Collector Valuation.

The bench also dismissed a petition filed by one Mohammad Younus who moved the court for release of a truck involved in a betel-nut smuggling case. The petitioner submitted before the bench that he was ready to pay a fine of Rs 75,000 if his truck is released.

Raja Iqbal, counsel for Pakistan Customs, opposed the petition submitting that impounded vehicle was used in smuggling and thus this plea could not be entertained in a constitution petition. -APP