KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has directed the customs authorities and deputy attorney general to file their respective para wise comments on constitutional petition filed by M/s Hira Terry Mills Limited, seeking exemption of customs duty and taxes, sales tax, federal excise duty and income tax in terms of export oriented units.
A two-member bench, comprising Justice Munib Akhtar and Justice Yousaf Ali Saeed, was hearing the petition.
Earlier, counsel for the petitioner stated that petitioner is exporter and importer of various textile products and obtained income as an export oriented units. He argued that in terms of the export oriented units and small and medium enterprises rules 2008 notified vide SRO 327(1)/2008 dated 29/03/2008, whereby, inter alia the whole of customs duties, sales tax, federal excise duty and income tax have been exempted on all the goods, plants, machinery, equipment etc.
He submitted that in spite of the foregoing, the petitioner has been subjected to unlawful illegal and patently misconceived demands of duties and taxes by the respondents in respect of the consignments carrying pre-engineered steel buildings imported for installation and use within the limits of its export oriented unit.
Citing Secretary Revenue Division, Collector of Customs East and Collector Customs Collectorate Port Muhammad Bin Qasim as respondents, petitioner pleaded the court may declare that pre-engineered steel building consignment is exempted from customs duties, sales tax, federal excise duty and income tax in terms of the export oriented units.