KARACHI: The MCC Appraisement West has filed an FIR against M/s M.A.C. Steel Corporation and M/s Pakistan Steel Import Company for the illegal removal of goods from a Customs bonded warehouse without paying the required duty and taxes.
The case was initiated following information provided by Collector Naveed Ilahi to Additional Collector Nausheen Faisal. A team led by Deputy Collector Saima Butt, including Principal Appraiser Rasheed Khan and Appraising Officer Zia ur Rehman, was formed to investigate the matter. It was revealed that M/s M.A.C. Steel Corporation (NTN: 1877205) had unlawfully removed goods from the bonded warehouse, Pakistan Industries Karachi (Warehouse No. Public/1-P13-3000).
Further intelligence, received on December 12, 2024, indicated that M/s Pakistan Steel Import Company (License No. 2/2015) had also removed goods without paying the necessary duties, taxes, and other charges as mandated by Section 104 of the Customs Act, 1969.
To verify these claims, officials from the Collectorate conducted a physical inspection of all bonded consignments. The inspection team visited the warehouse on December 12, 2024, and reported that goods, specifically cold rolled sheets and hot rolled sheets, had been removed illegally. The total quantities removed were 26,550 MT of cold rolled sheets and 105,290 MT of hot rolled sheets.
Preliminary investigations confirmed that M/s M.A.C. Steel Corporation had imported a consignment of secondary quality galvanized coated steel coils, which were in-bonded at the warehouse but subsequently removed illegally without payment.
The probe established that Muhammad Ahmed Chobdar, Proprietor of M.A.C. Steel Corporation, and Tariq Chobdar, Sole Proprietor of Public Bonded Warehouse “Pakistan Steel Import Company,” had orchestrated the unlawful removal of goods. The fraudulent actions resulted in a financial loss to the public exchequer amounting to Rs. 4,402,598, plus additional charges.
The actions of the involved parties violated Sections 97, 104, and 116 of the Customs Act, 1969, among other regulations. The FIR has been lodged, and efforts are underway to apprehend the culprits responsible for the fraud.