KARACHI: The Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation Karachi (I&I Karachi) has successfully foiled an attempt to deprive government of its legitimate revenue to the tune of Rs.214.462 million by M/s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) LHR Gujranwala Chapter.
Information was passed through Director Khalil Yousfani to Additional Director Rana Tasleem regarding inadmissible claim of exemption by M/s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) LHR Gujranwala Chapter on the consignment of “All-in-one integrated LED street lights”.
Director Khalil Yousafani assigned the task to Additional Director Rana Tasleem Akhtar under whose supervision Deputy Director Tausif Aman Gurchani and the team of R&A Branch headed by Principal Appraiser Farooq Ahmed identified and located an under-clearance consignment.
After continuous vigilance through on-line WeBOC system the subject consignment was blocked after being assigned to gate out stage at South Asia Pakistan Terminal, East Wharf, Karachi.
The examination of the goods and scrutiny of the GD and relevant documents revealed that All-in-one integrated LED Solar lights were cleared splitting the single item into three items i.e. (1) LED lights under PCT heading 9405.4090, (2) Battery Boxes under PCT heading 8507.8000 and (3) Solar Panels 8541.4000 and claimed exemptions was extended to battery boxes and solar panels under 5th schedule to Customs Act 1969, 6th Schedule to the Sales Tax Act 1990, 2nd Schedule to Income Tax Ordinance 2001 and SRO 680(I)/2019.
The claimed exemptions are available to such goods only which are not locally manufactured whereas per local manufacturing CGO 02/2017, “All type of Led bulbs and lamps” are locally manufactured.
Hence the claimed exemptions are not admissible to the instant goods resulting into evasion of duty/taxes amounting to Rs214.462 million.
The goods being liable for confiscation have been seized notice has been served on DHA through their clearing agent.
An official said PM Imran Khan had ordered an indiscriminate accountability regardless of any association or affiliation. FIA, Customs I&I, NAB are directed to execute their duties without any discrimination.
It was also known that an investigation into the affairs of Malik Riaz and Bahria Town is also being planned as there are reports that Bahria Town is using generators, batteries and other goods that had been pilfered out of NATO reverse cargo from Afghanistan.