KARACHI: Member Customs Mohammad Zahid Khokhar and Chief Collector Abdul Rasheed Shaikh has advised the collectorates in South region to effectively pursue inter-collectorate information sharing pertaining to mis-declaration, misuse of concessions etc to avoid revenue leakage.
Collector MCC Appraisement East Ashad Jawwad shared information with Collector Port Qasim regarding evasion of duty and taxes on import of polyester dyed ladies fabrics by misusing South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).
Other woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more weight of textured polyester filaments are classifiable under PCT 5407.5200 and benefit of SAFTA is not admissible on this PCT. Whereas, other woven fabrics containing 85 percent or more weight of filaments of nylon or other polyamides are covered under PCT 5407.4200 and benefit of SAFTA is admissible thereon.
In the case of former customs duty is 16 percent and in case of latter, duty is 5.0 percent due to benefit of SAFTA.
Principal Appraiser R&D East Hamood-ur-Rehman had detected that a number of consignments of polyester dyed fabric classifiable under PCT 5407.5200 were cleared through different collectorates under incorrect PCT 5407.4200 claiming concession under SRO 1274 of 2016.
Collector Port Qasim Saeed Akram has assigned Deputy Collector Ihsanullah and Principal Appraiser Khalid Omar to investigate the case. Saeed Akram has advised to identify the master-mind of this scam and arrest the same.
Sources said that a particular clearing agent was the master-mind of this scam and the same agent had formed several bogus companies and using their name to cover his wrongdoings. Sources said the same customs agent was also involved in inflicting loss to exchequer through depositing fake cheaques.