KARACHI: Customs Adjudication Quetta has reluctantly agreed to re-test a seized consignment of white spirit/kerosene oil, provided the samples are tested through some renowned laboratory like M/s HEJ, University of Karachi.
Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Karachi had seized 6 tankers of kerosene oil imported and cleared in the garb of White Spirit. Kerosene oil is restricted to be imported as per Import Policy Order.
The consignment had been imported by M/s Jahan Khan and Sons from Iran. The samples derived from the imported goods were tested from Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan (HDIP), which confirmed the goods to be kerosene oil.
However, the importers approached the Directorate for re-testing of the goods. Sources said Haji Abdul Sadiq Achakzai, the person accused in the murder of Deputy Collector Abdul Qudoos, had influenced the Customs Intelligence for re-testing of the goods.
An official said the first test report is usually the correct one, and whenever the goods are re-tested the results are modified to favor the importers, as they influence the findings.
The official said a large number of seized consignments were released on the basis of re-test reports, which are usually engineered to favor the importers, causing huge revenue loss to the national exchequer.
It is interesting to note that whenever re-test results differ from the first test results, no action was ever taken against the first test conducting laboratory for wrong analysis, which suggests that first test results are usually correct.
Customs Adjudication Quetta has requested the Customs Intelligence to forward the re-test reports to enable Customs Adjudication adjudicate the case.