KARACHI: A divisional bench of High Court of Sindh (SHC) comprising Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah and Justice Zulfiqar Ahmed Khan on Thursday issued notices to the Chairman FBR, Collector Customs and Deputy Collector Customs ( Appraisement), West for June 02 in a petition filed by telecommunication giant Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited.
The petitioner company maintained that it was the sole provider of land lines to the consumers through its telephone exchanges established in nook and corner of the country. To support the system, PTCL imports batteries which were always assessed under PCT heading 8507.2010 carrying custom duty at the rate of 10 per cent. It was further maintained that recently Custom had a controversy with Telenor Pakistan over the issues of custom duty on batteries for cellular system support. The issue was raised at Classification Committee of Pakistan Customs which fixed a new PCT heading 8507. 2090 having a custom duty at a rate of 20 per cent. The petitioner maintains that they are paying the custom duty at new rates under protest and challenge the same through instant petition.
The court was prayed to order the custom officials to differentiate between the land line service provider and cellular phone service providers and continue to assess the batteries imported for PTCL network under PCT heading 8507.2010.
The bench after initial hearing ordered issuance of notices to the respondents besides Deputy Attorney General.