Karachi: The Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement-West) in Karachi has exposed a major case of misdeclaration and tax evasion involving two consignments of imported fabric. The scam, worth approximately Rs. 43.9 million, was uncovered after a thorough investigation by the customs authorities, leading to the lodging of a First Information Report (FIR) against the implicated parties.
Key Details of the Scam
The accused parties include:
– M/s. Qiraam Impex (Private) Limited, a Karachi-based importer.
– M/s. Habib Sons, a clearing agency, and its proprietor, Abdul Razzak (CNIC: 42401-7079384-1).
The case revolves around two consignments imported from China under Goods Declaration (GD) Nos. KAPW-HC-162929-11-04-2025 and KAPW-HC-165005-15-04-2025. The importer declared the goods as “Billiard Table Cloth made of wool” and “Polyester Knitted Fabric,” with a declared value of Rs. 43.9 million. However, upon physical examination and lab testing, customs officials discovered that the actual goods were high-value fabrics, including:
– Woven furnishing fabric for sofas and curtains (HS Code: 5516.4200).
– Polyester blended woven dyed fabric (HS Code: 5516.1200).
– Polyester knitted stretchable dyed fabric (HS Code: 6004.1000).
The importer and clearing agent allegedly:
1. Misdeclared the description and value of goods to evade higher duties and taxes.
2. Underpaid customs duties by declaring low-value items, resulting in a tax evasion of Rs. 24.8 million.
3. Manipulated import documents, including invoices and bills of lading, to bypass scrutiny.
The case was pursued by the Facilitation Mechanism Cell, headed by Yaqoob Mako, under the supervision of Additional Collector Tauseef Gorchani, Deputy Collector Shakeel Ahmed, and Appraising Officer Ilyas Gichki. Yaqoob Mako is a very high profile officer and also referred to as ‘General Mako’ by colleagues.
The initial detection was made by Appraising Officer Zia ur Rehman, with information relayed through Collector Appraisement-West to Additional Collector R&D Saima Butt.
Laboratory tests confirmed the misdeclaration, revealing that the fabrics were blends of polyester, wool, cotton, viscose, and lycra—far different from the declared items.
An FIR (No. 04/2025) has been registered under:
– Sections 32(1) & (2) and 79(1) of the Customs Act, 1969 (punishable under clauses 14, 43, 44, 45, and 46 of Section 156(I)).
– Sections 33 and 34 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.
– Section 148 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001.
“This is a clear case of deliberate misdeclaration to evade taxes. The importer and clearing agent attempted to hoodwink the system by undervaluing high-duty goods. Strict action will be taken against all involved, including accomplices and facilitators.”
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities vowing to uncover the full network behind the scam. The case highlights the customs department’s vigilance in combating trade-based fraud and safeguarding national revenue.