KARACHI: A rift has developed between Customs Appraisement South and Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Karachi over the jurisdiction.
Chief Collector Appraisement South Abdul Rasheed Sheikh is of the view that the jurisdiction of Customs Appraisement remains until and unless the GD is gate out. However Customs I&I is willing to practice it’s jurisdiction on the GDs which are out of charge.
In a recent event, M/s Ghazi Steel Industries imported consignments of re-meltable scrap from Jebel Ali and the consignment was cleared through green channel through Clearing agents M/s Tahir International and M/s Facility Solutions.
As the consignment had been cleared, I&I conducted examination of the said consignment and found undeclared oversized bars and iron re-rollable scrap, HRC sheets and pipe fittings.
M/s Ghazi Steel Industries along with the clearing agent indulged in mis-declaration to evade legitimate government revenue.
The consignment was accordingly seized and given in the custody of terminal operator M/s DP World. However, a rift over jurisdiction is developed between Customs Intelligence and Investigation and Customs Appraisement South.
Sources said Chief Collector is not happy with the activities of I&I and advised the terminal operator that I&I must not examine the consignments. I&I was of the view that it was their jurisdiction. It may be mentioned here that ANF does not need any approval from Chief Collector for examination of any consignment.
Abdul Rasheed Sheikh has time and again instructed that green channel consignments should not be examined. It may be mentioned here that country suffers losses to the tune of billions of rupees every month as unscrupulous elements abuse the green channel facility.
Meanwhile, I&I has advised M/s DP World not to deal with or deliver M/s Ghazi Steel’s consignment without prior approval of I&I Karachi.
On the directives of DG Shaukat Ali, Director Samina Wajid is focussed on plugging revenue leakage through green channel.
