Change in policy: over 500 containers of polished granite imported from India stuck at port

Over 500 containers of polished granite imported from India have been stuck at Karachi port, due to abrupt change in the policy, putting unnecessary additional financial burden on the importers; it was learnt here on Saturday.
According to details, Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Appraisement - East in its assessment alert issued on the other day had declared the clearance of polished granite under PCT 6802-2300 incorrect that led suspending the clearance of over 500 containers of polished Granite worth in millions at port.
The assessment alert stated that polished Granite, which had further been worked upon and was more than simply cut, was correctly classifiable under PCT 6802-9300 and added that Granite that fell under PCT 6802-9300, was not importable from India as per Import policy order 2013 issued vide SRO 193(I)/2013 dated March 3, 2013.
On the other hand, Directorate General of Valuation, Karachi after the announcement of Import policy order 2013 had issued a valuation ruling on March 31 2014 and classified polished granite under PCT 6802.2300, which has now been declared as incorrect classification by the MCC, Appraisement-East.
Meanwhile, market sources said that Valuation department had allowed the clearance of polished granite under PCT 6802.2300 and declared its import from India permissible in its valuation ruling issued on March 31, 2014.
The market sources further said that they had been importing polished granite from India for last two years under PCT 6802.2300 and department had failed to detect its blunder.
They questioned the authority concerned that if the mistake was detected on the part of valuation department, which had wrongly classified polished granite under PCT 6802.2300 that led Indian polished granite importable then why the necks of the importers were only being squeezed.
When contacted customs officials, who did not want to be named, said that MCC, Appraisement-East has mentioned the mistake of Directorate General of Valuation Karachi in its observation and directed to make necessary correction in its valuation ruling.
Meanwhile, Arshad Jamal, vice chairman All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) said that polished granite was being imported from India for years as the stakeholders had not properly been guided by the concerned authorities.
Although the efforts taken by the MCC Appraisement-East to identify the said mistake are laudable, the importers should have taken reasonable time to clear their consignments, which had already been arrived at port, he said.
Arshad also requested the authorities concerned to allow the clearance of Indian origin polished granite consignments, which were already arrived at port, under PCT 6802.2300 as if they did not do the same then over 500 containers would be stuck at port, which would not only provide severe financial shock to the importers but also create port congestion issue.
He said that Indian origin polished granite, which was not importable under Import policy order 2013, had been brought into the country, due to incorrect valuation ruling issued by the Valuation department hence importers were not responsible for such inadmissible imports. He therefore requested the authorities concerned to withdraw all show cause notices issued by the customs department.