KARACHI, Apr 22 (INP): Directorate of Customs Intelligence Karachi on an information seized telecommunication equipment and accessories including energy storage units and accessories etc. imported by a mobile company. Details revealed that the seized goods were being cleared mis-declaring the PCT and concealing the actual value from Appraisement (West) Collectorate Karachi port.
In response, to a query Director Customs Intelligence Muhammad Asif Marghoob Siddiqui told that 3 (three) seized containers were taken into custody by Customs Intelligence Karachi on 21 April which were being cleared through green channel under self-assessment scheme. Value of the seized goods in customs clearance documents was declared as Rupees 2 crores 10 lacs against payment of duties and taxes amounting to Rs. 9 lacs.
Sources said imported goods and related documents were minutely scrutinized by
Customs official and it came to light that actual value of the seized goods was rupees 9 crores and 10 lacs with leviable duties and taxes as Rupees 4 crores 38 lacs.
The importer and clearing were unable to provide any plausible explanation for not paying the actual leviable duties and taxes, when confronted by the senior officers of Customs Intelligence.
Accordingly the goods were seized for violation of different sections of Customs Act, 1969, Sales Tax Act, 1990 and Income Tax Ordinance-2001 and were given in the custody of the port terminal operator. A formal seizure as per requirement of law has been forwarded to concerned adjudicating authority so that short paid duties an taxes are deposited into government treasury.
On telephonic contact, Director Customs Intelligence told that the subject seizure has been made and added that this is the second seizure of such nature during the last then (10) days. In earlier seizure telecommunication equipments worth more than 7 Crores were seized.
He informed that during last one year customs intelligence Karachi has detected many cases of evasion of duty and taxes worth billions of rupees in the import of national and international mobile companies operating in Pakistan.
He further emphasized that previous such imports of mobile companies need to be examined in order to ensure that due duties and taxes have been paid and for this purpose Customs Intelligence has initiated exercise in the interest of government revenue.