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the cargo also. That means India has • Talks are on Depite all the strains, the talks
already remitted its foreign currency for Kartarpur corridor are still underway
and now by returning cargo to Paki-
stan, they will lose cargo also. Pakistan and thereafter 10,000 per doc per day
will get double benefit in contrary to for the subsequent days till the doc is
our Union Government’s intention that submitted to customs has to be waived
they will not get any further benefit off in this case, as a special case. The
from our country” said Jimmy. shipper has been importing cement
Purpose of the Union Government for a long time and they are filing docu-
has to be fulfilled but justice is to be ments without any customs fine how-
done equally to all Indian citizens. This ever, the delay for filing the present
can be sorted out by making a clarifi- case is only due to the recent notifica-
cation or one-time exemption in the tion no. 05/2019 to pay customs duty @
notification that whatever cargo that 200 per cent. Once the import doc( bill
left Pakistan before 16.2.2019 will be al- of entry) is filed, the customs system
lowed to customs clearance at the duty will automatically assess customs duty
applicable before 16.2.2109 and the new @ 200 per cent on the consignment,
notification is applicable for cargo load- moreover, interest on the duty also
ed from Pakistan on or after 16.2.2109. becomes payable, if there is any delay
With the support of the latest tech- for duty payment. Therefore, the Indian
nology, it is easy to track whether con- importer is now in darkness.
tainers have been loaded onto the ves- The Honourable Kerala High Court
sel at Karachi on or before 15.2.2109, passed an interim order to protect the
in this regard. Cement being a perish- interest of the Indian importers whose
able cargo by nature needs immediate goods were exported from Pakistan pri-
customs clearance/delivery; hence an or to 16-2-19, the Central Government
urgent decision is required. The qual-
ity of the cement will be deteriorated if
there is undue delay in customs clear- The cross-LoC barter shall take appropriate decisions and
ance. Moreover, the delay will result in trade between Indian has necessary power under the Cus-
demurrage on the container by the port toms Act under Section 25(2) to exempt.
and detention charge on the container side and PoK at According to the exporters, if they do
by the steamer line and it will be a big Uri-Muzaffarabad not receive Duty Exemption, Waiver of
blow for the importer. Customs Fine for the delay in filing Bill
The recent customs rule that import and Poonch-Rawalkot of Entry and Waiver of Shipping Line
document (bill of entry) has to be sub- detention and waiver of Port detention
mitted to customs within 24 hours of route was suspended charges else they will have to abandon
vessel’s berthing at discharge port in In- during the escalations the cargo and lose all the money.
dia, otherwise customs fine @ 5000/- “The Chambers of Trade and Com-
per doc per day for the first three days but later resumed merce in India and Pakistan have been
attempting to improve the bi-lateral
trade by participating in the trade expos
and other events but trade and pros-
The Integrated Check Post perity of people is not on the minds of
our leaders. We stand by country if our
national security is under threat but
The Integrated Check Post (ICP) the trade of perishables by sea is such decisions (import duty hike) will
was inaugurated by the then Home not feasible. It was also expected to not teach Pakistan any lessons rather
Minister P.Chidambram in 2012 on improve the stagnating incomes of add to the burgeoning unemploy-
Attari-Wagha border. Spread over Punjab farmers. But in the absence ment of our country. So may small and
an area of 130 acre, it came up at of fruitful dialogue and diplomatic medium units have either closed down
an investment of 120 cr. The GoI initiatives coupled with inconsist- or scaled down operation post demon-
perceived to increase the export ent policies, this facility could not etisation and new GST regime, instead
of fresh vegetables to Pakistan as reap the benefits for the country. of focussing on creating more jobs
we are subverting the existing ones.”,

Tehelka / 30 april 2019 50 www.Tehelka.com