KARACHI: MCC Appraisement East has foiled a bid of clearing secondary quality steel in the garb of prime quality, which if had gone undetected, the exchequer would have suffered a loss of Rs11 million.
In pursuance of Collector MCC-Appraisement (East) Majid Yousafani orders, a team headed by Principal Appraiser Muhammad Ibrahim Khan and comprising Noor Elahi Khan, Aamir Hussain and Abdul Qadeer Khan inspected and examined a consignment of 33 containers declared to be containing Zincalume Steel Sheets under HS Code 7210.4990 attracting customs duty of 10 percent.
The examination found the goods to be in coils with stickers on each coil pasted showing words ‘REJECTED’. The Mill Test Certificate provided by the representative of the importer does not show the date of production, which is mandatory. The Certificate also does not show international standard specifications and/or standards in vogue in country of origin.
Moreover, The B/L, invoice, packing list, L/C do not show or confirm that the goods are prime quality. The goods are of various physical and chemical properties viz thickness, weight, uneven edges, composition, yield, tensile strength etc.
Apart from the genuineness or otherwise of the supplied documents which are yet to be confirmed, the importer/clearing agent are reluctant to supply the bank endorsed documents viz L/C, B/L, invoice, packing list, MTC etc.
Hence, the goods are a collection of odds and ends qualifying the category of
Secondary Quality for which appropriate HS Code is 7210.4910 attracting customs duty of 20 percent.
The contravention report of the event is being prepared, which would be forwarded for adjudication.