Pakistan Customs Appraisement West has lodged two FIRs against several individuals, including a private bank employee, for submitting and verifying fake Proceed Realization Certificates (PRCs). These actions involved the importer, a clearing agent, and officials from Private Bank.
The Collector of Customs Appraisement (East), Karachi, Naveed Elahi, and Additional Collector Zubair Shah, received credible information that some individuals were clearing vehicles using fake PRCs issued by Private Bank. The Ministry of Commerce requires specific legal compliance for importing old used vehicles by overseas Pakistanis.
To verify the authenticity, the PRCs issued by Private Bank and submitted by the clearing agent, Aeroseas Transit Agency, were forwarded to the head office for verification. Emails were sent to Faysal Bank Limited (FBL) and HabibMetro Bank Limited (HMBL) to cross-check the account holder details with the PRCs. Both banks confirmed that the details provided did not match their records, indicating that the PRCs were false.
Despite the fake PRCs, the consignee and clearing agent, in collusion with bank officers, managed to clear the vehicles. The preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused importers, consignees, clearing agent Aeroseas Transit Agency, and Private Bank employee Raza Malik, were involved in creating and verifying the fake PRCs.
The investigation is ongoing, and the accused individuals have been charged under various sections of the Customs Act, 1969, and the Imports and Export Control Act, 1950.
This crackdown is part of Pakistan Customs’ efforts to combat fraudulent activities and ensure compliance with import regulations.