Customs Appellate Tribunal, Lahore working sans members

Lahore: No Member Customs Appellate Tribunal (judicial) has been appointed for the last three year while member technical is also on leave for an unidentified period of time at Customs Appellate
Tribunal, Lahore.

Sources said that both the members have to be appointed by the Federal
Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman and Member administration FBR.

However, the lack of interest on the part of the FBR chairman and
member administration both complainant and appellants have been put to
face hardships.

The sources said that one member judicial only is working for the whole of the country due to which thousands of cases are pending and waiting for decision.

The sources said that billions of rupees are stuck-up in the cases that have proved a burden on the economy.

They said that the stuck-up investment if decided timely by the members can play a vital role in economic growth and development.

They urged the government to take notice of the aggravated situation immediately, posting the members on a regular basis, extending the much needed relief to the trade and industry that has already been
suffering because of Covid-19.

Customs, Excise & Sales Tax Appellate has been established under section 194 of the Customs Act, 1969 and the powers and functions of the Appellate Tribunal are exercised and discharged by Benches
constituted by the Chairman from amongst the members thereto. Each
Bench adjudicates the matters provided under the Schedule and Act and
administers the justice.