SKT Traders (Pvt) Ltd and Another vs. Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economy & Policy Development and Others – sllr 2021 volume 2 page 529

Brief
In the case between SKT Traders (Pvt) Ltd and Another (Petitioners) and the Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economy & Policy Development, and Others (Respondents), the Court addressed whether Imports and Exports Control Regulation No. 3 of 2019, issued under the Imports and Exports Control Act, No. 1 of 1969, was rendered invalid for not being “brought before Parliament” within one month as mandated by section 20(4) of the Act. It was held that submission to the Secretary General of Parliament within the stipulated timeframe satisfied the statutory requirement, and in any event, the absence of a statutory penalty rendered the requirement directory rather than mandatory. The principle affirmed is that lack of strict compliance with procedural timelines, absent a specified sanctio