Model Collectorate of Customs, Port Qasim has detained goods worth millions of rupees attempted to be cleared under the garb of incentives available to the industrial units established in the Fata/Pata.
Sharing the background, the sources said, M/s MM Steel, have imported consignments said to contain tin mill black plate coils and galvanized steel sheets as per Import General Manifest (IGM).
The perusal of amendment in the IGM request revealed that the name of importer was requested to be changed from M/s MM Steel, Daska, (Sialkot) to M/s Sher Steel furnace and Re-Rolling Mills, Dargai, Malakand on the grounds that goods have been wrongly manifested in the name of M/s MM Steel.
The application was examined and rejected, on the grounds of name of the Fata/Pata unit, which prima facie did not show any connection with imported goods as well as loss of revenue, if allowed in the name of M/s Sher Steel Furnace and Re-rolling Mills, Malakand, as sales tax and income tax exemption is available to the units of the Fata/Pata under 25th amendment of the Constitution of Pakistan.
Upon rejection of amendment in the IGM, another application was also received in the name of M/s Sher Steel Furnace and Re-Rolling Mills with the request to allow re-export of the goods, which created a reasonable doubt for further inquiry, which later on transpired that it was a deliberate attempt to clear the goods without payment of leviable taxes.
After going through the circumstances and documentary evidence, MMC Port Qasim detained the suspicious goods and an FIR was lodged on March 17, 2020 and further investigation is under way, on account of mis-declaration and evasion of sales tax and income tax to the tune of Rs 22.13 million (approximately) of taxes by submitting fake/forged documents.
Mumtaz Ali Khoso, Collector of Customs has appreciated proactive and timely action of the officers.
This will help in facilitating genuine imports of the Fata/Pata and check attempts for misuse of facility specially given to the Fata/Pata manufacturers.