KARACHI: Directorate General Customs Intelligence & Investigation and Chief Collector Appraisement South Abdul Rasheed Sheilkh have come across each other as the Directorate General Customs I&I is determined to impose its writ within its jurisdiction.
According to details reaching Customnews.pk, a team of Directorate of Customs Intelligence Karachi comprising Superintendent Zafar Iqbal, IOs Saeed Farooqui and Mohammad Sadiq acting on an information reach DP World terminal to conduct examination of a consignment comprising 18 containers of M/s Ghazi Steel.
The consignments of four GDs had been processed and were assigned gate-out, hence it was the jurisdiction of Customs I&I to examine the consignments. However, Chief Collector Abdul Rasheed Sheikh did not the containers to be examined by the I&I team.
Sheikh advised Collectorate of Port Qasim that the examination must not be conducted. He even advised that in case I&I insisted on examination, they should be arrested.
R&D MCC Port Qasim tried to convince I&I team to refrain from conducting the examination. I&I team contacted Deputy Director Shah Faisal who consulted his supervisory officers and advised to conduct the examination.
DP World Terminal operators were instructed not to ground the containers for examination. DP World said the containers had been grounded and they were being pressurized so that examination could not be conducted, which was quite unprofessional.
However, the examination was conducted and the report is being prepared in this regard.
Customs I&I s of the view that they would impose their writ at any cost and could even approach the courts.
Chief Collector Appraisement South is quite sensitive about the consignments of steel and construction equipment in particular.
Tthere are instructions of DG Shaukat Ali to keep strict vigil on the consignments of steel products clearing through green channel as there is information of huge evasion on the import of steel products.
Chief Collector Appraisement South and Customs Intelligence come across each other
