KARACHI: Despite Islamabad High Court’s order and Chairman FBR’s recommendation for proposed up-gradation of Principal Appraiser, Superintendent Customs and Superintendent Preventive from BPS-16 to BPS-17; the proposal is not being considered and is pending with the Establishment Division for the last six months.

“The Finance Minister may ascertain the cause of inordinate delay and mitigate the discrimination to the said cadre for redressal of the situation.

According to details, the non-CSS executive cadre’s posts in Customs consist of three main streams i.e. Appraisement cadre, Preventive cadre and Land Customs cadre. Each cadre comprises three tier hierarchies with the upper positions of Principal Appraiser, Superintendent (Preventive) and Superintendent Customs, respectively.

All the above three upper positions fall in BPS-16 from the very beginning of Customs history and never up-graded. The only promotional path for the incumbents of these cadres is their promotion against 25 percent posts of Assistant Collector (BS-17) in the Pakistan Customs Service.

In the recent past, various posts in lower hierarchy in above three streams were up-graded to BPS-16 with the approval of the former Prime Minister, after obtaining concurrence of the Establishment Division and the Finance Division.

This up-gradation has created an anomalous situation because the pay scales of two subordinate posts in each hierarchy have been brought at par with the top positions in same hierarchies. Resultantly the incumbent BS-16 officials in the hierarchy i.e. Principal Appraisers, Superintendent (Preventive) and Superintendent Customs also demanded for their one step up-gradation to BS-17 and ultimately filed Writ Petitions in the High Courts of Islamabad and Peshawar. The Islamabad High Court vide its judgment directed to consider their up-gradation.

Principal appraiser Shafiullah SVP of Appraising Officers Association, General Secretary Raja Wasim, Principal Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Appraising Officer Rashid Khanzada have been running pillar to post for the proposed up-gradation. But the Establishment Division is sitting on the case.

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has notified large scale reshuffling of officers ranging from BS-19 to BS-21 in the Inland Revenue Service (IRS).

The officers transferred and posted include the following:

KARACHI: Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and MCC Gawadar have foiled a bid to smuggle foreign origin liquor into the country and arrested two smugglers.

Collector Gwadar Saeed Akram had this information that smuggling of large quantity of contraband items would be smuggled.

Saeed Akram informed Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA)  about the operation. A joint operation was conducted at sea on August 20, 2015.

The suspicious boat was intercepted at sea while unloading the cargo at an isolated area near Makran Coast.

Taking advantage of darkness, smugglers managed to escape from the scene using small speed boats, however two smugglers were apprehended.

The apprehended high quality liquor and arrested smugglers have been handed over to Pakistan Customs authorities MCC Gawadar (Preventive) for further legal proceedings.

The seized goods include Whyte & Mackay 11 bottles; King Robert whisky 44 bottles; Mackinlays whisky 574 bottles; Red Horse Beer 400 tins valuing approximately Rs 2.7 million.

The arrested persons have been identified as Shamby s/o Mehmood and Wali Khan s/o Muhammad Baksh.

Sources said that Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar has recently assumed the office of the Director General of PMSA. He has planned a grand operation against smuggling of diesel and liquor through sea routes.

According to the framework, PMSA would itself pursue cases, which they detected on their own. While the cases detected on the information of Customs would be handed over to Customs.

KARACHI: The Directorate of Transit Trade has implemented the amendments in Customs Rules, wherein the provision of verifying shipper seal on Afghan Transit containers has been omitted.

The Customs officials posted in examination were abusing this provision and were blackmailing the Customs agents and minting money. The omission of this unnecessary provision would also end corruption on the part of Customs officials.

Director Transit Trade Wajid Ali had proposed to eliminate the requirement of checking/verifying the shipper seal by the Customs authorities.

Wajid Ali had suggested that this requirement was resulting in port congestion as well as delay in processing of consignments.

In order to facilitate the trade, the requirement regarding checking of shipper seal by Customs officials was eliminated through the Finance Act, and the Directorate of Transit Trade has implemented this.

Shipper seal is the seal affixed on container by the shipper from the port of loading.

Rule 473 of Customs Rules required that after filing of GD, all consignments of transit goods shall be inspected to verify the shipper seal and container No. declared in GD. Now this provision has been omitted.

The seal imposed on containers by the Customs Preventive is more important, as the exit collectorate clears the consignments after checking the Preventive Seal. This requirement would remain in place.

Zahid Qazi, President of Pak-Afghan Transit Clearing Agents Group, appreciated the implementation of new mechanism saying that this was an unnecessary requirement and checking of shipper seals on large sized containers took much time as well as it was a hassle for the agents and importers alike.

This process also resulted in demurrage and detention cahrges as well as it caused congestion on the ports.

Qazi said that they had approached Director Transit Trade Wajid Ali and apprised him of the problems being caused due to this unnecessary requirement.

“On our recommendations, Wajid Ali had forwarded the proposals which were accepted. This would facilitate trade to a great extent,” Qazi said.

KARACHI: The Directorate of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has created a demand of Rs5.848 million, which is recoverable from M/s Cotton Craft, as it was evaded through mis-declaration of classification.

During the scrutiny of import data, it was observed that M/S Cotton Craft (pvt) Ltd imported various consignments of calcium sulphate, pharmaceutical grade and cleared the same from different Collectorates by mis-declaring the goods under PCT 2520.1010 attracting Customs Duty 10 percent whereas the goods are correctly classifiable under PCT heading 2520.2000 chargeable to Customs Duty 15 percent.

Thus M/s. Cotton Craft by mis-declaration of classification have evaded/short paid duty taxes totaling Rs5.848 million.

Director PCA Karachi Gul Rehman is a dead honest man and he has made the Directorate a vibrant formation and a number of cases involving billions of rupees of revenue have been made.

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has suspended three BS-16 officers of MCC Islamabad for three months.

In exercise of powers conferred under Rule 5(1) of the Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 1973, the Competent Authority has been pleased to place the following BS-16 officers of Model Customs Collector, Islamabad under suspension with immediate effect for a period of three months:-

1. Ghulam Ishaq Kiyani, Sueprintendent (Officiating Principal Appraiser)
2. Atta-ur-Rehman, Deputy Superintendent (Officiating Appraiser)

Abdul Hafeez Khan, Inspector (Officiating Examiner).

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has notified that imports of second-hand/used clothing of all origins will pass through WeBOC red channel.

However, in order to avoid choking of terminals, percentage of examination of imported consignments will be done by the clearance collectorates on the basis of selectivity criteria as imports from some origins are considered more risky.

A meeting of the committee formed by Minister of Finance in order to discuss and resolve the problems being faced by the All Pakistan Textile Mills and other associations was held in FBR recently.

The associations raised issues regarding misdeclarations in the consignments of second-hand/used clothing. Accordingly, the meeting decided the processing of all such consignments through red channel.

Earlier, the consignments of used clothing passed randomly through red, green and yellow channels. Sources said that later due to some reasons all the consignments of used clothing started being cleared through the green channel.

Consequently, certain elements took undue benefit of this facility and clothing and liquor from Korea, electronics from Japan and England were being imported through misdeclaration in the garb of second hand clothing.

Recently, MCC Appraisement East detected one such case and lodged an FIR. Afterwards, a process was initiated which resulted in the above mentioned guidelines.

It may be mentioned here that unscrupulous elements have setup their officers in several countries particularly China, Korea, Japan and England. These elements used to mis-declare high duty attracting goods as used and second hand clothing to evade duty and taxes.

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has transferred two officers of Pakistan Customs Service.

Accordingly, Sumair Mustansar Tarar, BS-18 has been posted as Deputy Collector, Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive, Lahore from the post of Second Secretary, FBR Headquarter, Islamabad.

Imran Afzal (BS-17) has been posted as Assistant Collector, Model Customs Collectorate, Hyderabad from the post of Assistant Collector, MCC Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Karachi.

KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has notified promotion of 09 BS-18 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) into BS-19 on regular basis.

These officers include Muneeza Majeed, Asdaq Afzal Sensera, Mohammad Saeed Asad, Mohammad Masood Sabir, Dr. FArid Khan Salarzai, Syed Imran SAjjad Bukhari, Muhammad Arshad Khan, REhamatullah Vistro and Muhammad Talib Hussain.

Moreover, 11 BS-18 officers of Pakistan Customs Service (PCS) have been promoted to BS-19 on temporary basis against DTL vacancies in their service subject to reversion to lower posts upon joining of original incumbent of the posts.

These officers include Muhammad Ahsan Khan, Yasin Murtaza, Muteen Alam, Abdul Hayee Sheikh, Syed Jawad Ali Shah, Amer Rashid, Muhammad Daud Pirzada, Dr. Noman Khan, MS. Shalra Khan, Adnan Iqbal Sawati and Ms. Mona Sarfaraz.

The officers advised to actualize their promotions against their existing posts include Asdaq Afzal Sensera Deputy Collector (DC) MCC Sialkot; Mohammad Saeed Asad DC Adjudication Faisalabad; Muhammad Arshad Khan DC Appraisement East Karachi; Muteen Alam DC MCC Multan; Abdul Haye Shaikh DC Appraisement West Karachi; Syed JAwaid Ali Shah DC Appraisement Lahore; Amer Rashid DC DOT Karachi; Dr. Noman Khan DC Appraisement West Karachi; Ms. Shalra Khan DC MCC Islamabad; Adnan Iqbal Sawati DC Appraisement West Karachi and Ms. Mona Mehfooz DC MCC Exports Karachi.

Furthermore, Ms. Muneeza Majeed is advised to actualize their promotion against the post of Additional Collector (ADC) DOT Customs Lahore; Muhammad Masood Sabir to actualize promotion against the post of Secretary FBR HQ Islamabad; Dr. Farid Khan Salarzai to actualize promotion against the post of ADC MCC Peshawar; Syed Imran Sajjad Bukhari, Yasin Murtaza and Rehamatullah Vistro to actualize promotions against the posts of Secretary FBR HQ Islamabad; Talib Hussain to actualize promotion against the post of ADC Directorate of Post Clearance Audit Karachi and Muhammad Ahsan Khan is advised to actualize promotion against the post of ADC MCC Exports Karachi.

KARACHI: Collector Appraisement West Owais Agha Jawad has notified transfers and postings of around 20 Principal Appraisers while Collector Appraisement East is likely to re-shuffle Principal Appraisers and Appraisers in a couple of days.

The Principal Appraisers moved in Appraisement West include Azeem khan to R&D, Qalander bux to group 1,   Muzaffar Rizvi to group 2,  Javaid Hasan to group 3,  Asad Masood to group 4,  Raffi ullah to group 5,   Masood Ul Hasan to group 6, Abdul Qaum to group 7,  Sahib e Ikram to group 7,   Saleh Kalhoro to Bank guarantee,  Saleem Yousuf to Bond Section,  Ali Ahmed Talpur  and Ahmed Nawaz to Auction,  Najm Ul Hasan Jamali to FTA & PTA section,  Javaid Ehsan to Audit section,  Shaheen Farooq to Recovery section and  Abdullah Domki to Law,  FTO.

Sources said that certain senior officers had assigned additional charge of assessment and examination to Principal Appraisers and Appraisers of intelligence sections, which resulted in gross corruption causing much harm to national revenues.

Sources said that all PAs and Appraisers of Appraisement Intelligence Branch (AIB), Research & Development (R&D), Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Intelligence & Prosecution (I&P) will not perform assessment and examination at all.

KARACHI: China Customs and Ministry of Commerce have agreed on Electronic Data Inter-change (EDI) with Pakistan Customs, which would help eliminate under-invoicing pertaining to imports from China as well as misuse of the free trade agreement (FTA).

The work on this module has been initiated and it will be implemented by July 2016, officials told Customnews.pk.

According to details, a meeting between the Customs authorities of both Pakistan and China was held last week in China, which deliberated upon the modalities of the data interchange.

Director Automation and Reforms Majid Yousufani led the Pakistan Customs’ delegation comprising Chief Automation Abdul Qadir, Riaz Chaudry and Azeem Afzal of PRAL.

EDI would enable real time access to Certificate of Origins, Customs values and FTA pertaining to exports from China to Pakistan, which would eliminate under-invoicing, mis-declartion and misuse of FTAs.

Yousfani has been transferred to Appraisement East so this is not confirm yet if Yousafani would continue to supervise this project or new DG Reforms and Automation Dr. Farid Iqbal Qureshi would look after the project.

It may be mentioned here that China does not keep check on their exports and the entire world including Europe is facing the menace of under-invoicing. Pakistan is the first country that has reached an understanding with Chinese authorities to implement such a mechanism.

It may be recalled that Federal Board of Revenue earlier this year had issued an alert regarding mis-declaration in imports from China under 50 HS codes. The Board was also concerned about the un-warranted concessions granted under various SROs covering preferential or free trade agreements.

The objective of EDI is to implement standardized simple set of trade-related data that can make it easier for legitimate traders to meet legal, regulatory and administrative requirements by reducing the amount of time, effort and money needed to gather, collate and submit data.

KARACHI: The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is considering to equip Chief Collectors of Appraisement and Enforcement with ‘eyes’ i.e. centralized intelligence wings directly reporting to the Chief Collectors, which would enable strict monitoring and strengthen accountability.

Sources said the concerned authorities are brainstorming on the plan and it is being considered to merge the Collectorate-based intelligence wings into centralized agencies.

It may be mentioned here that intelligence formations in the name of Research & Development (R&D), Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) or Appraisement Intelligence Branch (AIB) or operating at every collectorate in Appraisement South. These formations report to their respective Collector.

An official said these intelligence formations were not operating in professional manner and were almost dormant. The official said that reason behind such a state of affairs was shortage of human resource and most importantly incompetent persons on sensitive posts, which results in absence of organized supervision.

It may be mentioned here that officials associated with intelligence branches have also been assigned assessment and examination, which eliminates check & balance resulting in organized revenue leakage.

Sources said that all these Collectorate-based intelligence branches would be merged into centralized formation comprising of four wings including Prosecution, Assessment, Examination Wing and Monitoring.

Prosecution wing would focus on strengthening the prosecution of cases including arrest of accused, investigation and pursuance of cases at legal forums. Assessment and Examination Wings would keep a vigil on attempts of mis-declaration, under-invoicing and misuse of concessionary SROs while Monitoring Wing with the help of CCTV cameras would monitor day to day workings at the Customs House.

According to the proposed plan, an Additional Collector would head the centralized intelligence agency while a Deputy Collector or Assistant Collector would head the sub-branches mentioned above.

Sources said that well reputed Additional Collectors such as Omar Shafique and Nayyar Shafique may be considered to head the proposed formation.

While Deputy Collectors such as Qasim Khokar, Ibrahim Khan, Rana Aftab and Falik Sher while Assistant Collectors such as Asim Rehman, Wasif Malik and Usman Tariq may also be eligible candidates to lead the sub-branches.

Moreover, Principal Appraisers such as Sultan Aurungzeb, Javed Akhter, Shahid Rizvi, Tahir Hussain and Asad Masood while Appraisers including Dost Mohammad, Mohammad Maqsood, Hafiz Mohammad Jokhio, Mohammad Javed, Noor Elahi, Shahid Ibrahim Dasti, Sohail Mughal, Mohammad Irshad, Mohammad Aziz, Abdul Ghani Soomro and Preventive Officer Malak Hashim being competent and experienced officials may also be the part of the centralized formation.

Sources said FBR has currently posted competent and well-reputed Collectors including Surayya Ahmed Butt Collector Port Qasim, Owais Agha Jawwad Collector Appraisement West and Majid Yousafani Collector MCC Appraisement East. Member Customs Nisar Mohammad Khan is known to be an officer killing loopholes and establishment of such a centralized intelligence formation would go a long way in facilitating trade and plugging revenue leakage.

KARACHI: The Directorate of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has prepared two contravention reports against M/s Magna Textile Industries for evasion of customs duty and other taxes on account of availing inadmissible benefit of SRO 565(I)/2006. Contravention reports have been forwarded for adjudication proceedings.

According to details, M/s Magna Textile Industries (Pvt.) Limited had imported consignments of Pigment Preparations, Brightening Agents, Carbon Black, Emulsifier WN, Kevi Green, Nonionic Surface Active Agents etc. and got them cleared from MCC Appraisement West and MCC Appraisement availing inadmissible exemption of Customs Duty as in excess of 5 percent under SRO 565(1)/2006.

Benefit of the said SRO is admissible to Sales Tax Registered manufacturers of Master Batches having suitable in house facility; subject to conditions notified under SRO including that clearance shall be allowed through one port/dry port. While in Sales Tax profile, principal activity of the said importer is manufacturer cum importer/exporter for “Finishing of Textile” and not as the manufacture of Master Batches. Therefore, the imports were not covered under the SRO and were subject to statutory rate of customs duty, sales tax and withholding tax.

Thus, an amount of Customs duty and taxes totaling 35.282 million has been short paid evaded by M/s Magna Textile Industries.

KARACHI: The High Court of Sindh has advised Pakistan Customs to release the consignment of Telenor Pakistan provisionally.

Court in an interim ordered noted that the consignment of Telenor Pakistan shall be released on payment of duty and taxes to the Customs whereas disputed amount of duty and taxes may be deposited with the Nazir of Court in the form of pay-order or bank guarantee.

Telenor had approached the Court for the solution of dispute pertaining to the leviable duty and taxes. The Court has fixed the hearing in the matter for August 25, 2015.

KARACHI: The Anti-smuggling Organization of Customs Preventive apprehended a bus from Quetta near Moch Goth and recovered smuggled goods worth over Rs10 million.

The goods seized include Germany origin sanitary fittings and chillers involving duty and taxes of RS6-7 million.

Sources said that these are special purpose buses and used only for smuggling purpose. There are no seats in these passenger buses and these are stuffed with smuggled goods.

Around 8-10 such buses carry non-duty paid goods into Karachi from Quetta causing a revenue loss of Rs70-80 million daily. Despite the fact that these passenger buses have no seating arrangements and are used exclusively for smuggling, the Customs Adjudication releases these carriers. An official said a policy is needed that these transportation means should be confiscated.

Collector Preventive Tariq Huda would hold a press conference in this regard on August 25, 2015.

KARACHI: Director Customs Valuation Manzoor Memon has called a meeting of stakeholders to determine the Customs values of second hand clothing under PCT 6309.0000 in the first half of September 2015.

The stakeholders invited to the meeting have been advised to bring all relevant documents, test reports, literature, representative samples and proposed working in support of their contentions.

It may be recalled that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has recently notified that that imports of second-hand/used clothing of all origins will pass through WeBOC red channel.

However, in order to avoid choking of terminals, percentage of examination of imported consignments will be done by the clearance collectorates on the basis of selectivity criteria as imports from some origins are considered more risky.

The participants invited to the meeting include Chairman (Valuation Committee) FPCCI, Member (Valuation Committee) KCCI, Presidents Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Other participants include representatives of M/s Bilal Brothers, M/s Eastern Rags, M/s Best Clothing, M/s Z.N. Traders, M/s M. Yousuf & Co, M/s Sherry Traders, M/s J.S. Company, M/s M.Suleman Ellias, M/s Ahram Recycling & Clothing, M/s Maas International, M/s Hamid Associates, M/s Sheikh & Co, M/s Progressive International, M/s Amina Enterprises, M/s Muhammad Ali Enterprises, M/s Bushra International, M/s Heco Tex, M/s Shifa International, M/s A.B. International, M/s G.R. International, M/s Agha Hassan & Company, M/s Matsui Traders, M/s Muzammil Enterprises, M/s Arshad Hussain & Co, M/s M.S. International, M/s Rani Enterprises, M/s Gul Trading Co, M/s Haji Ghousuddin & Company, M/s Global Business International, M/s Aisha Enterprises, M/s M. Aslam Usman and M/s Ali International and others.

KARACHI: The staff of Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) of MCC Preventive, Karachi has seized a passenger bus bearing registration No BSA-585 along with huge quantity of smuggled merchandise goods including Sanitary ware, Air Conditioners , Laptops, Toiletries, High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lights etc, worth Rs 5.965 million.

The value of passenger bus has been taken as Rs7.0 million. Total value of the case is Rs12.965 million. The seized goods were recovered from the said bus which was intercepted Lucky Chowk near Al- Rehman City, RCD Highway Karachi. FIR in the case has been lodged and efforts are being made to arrest the culprits.

Moreover, the Anti Smuggling Organization has seized huge quantities of smuggled POL products, contraband items and merchandise goods worth millions of rupees during the year 2015 so far.

These include 369,180 liters diesel worth Rs31.215 million, huge quantity of contraband goods including Charas, Liquor, Gutkha etc worth Rs 90.615 million, huge quantity of merchandize goods including black tea, Cigarettes, Cloth, Electronics, Mobile phones, Tyres, Cosmetics etc worth Rs 29.116 million and non-Custom paid vehicles, one wooden launch and 50 conveyances worth Rs86.231 million.

Total value of smuggled goods seized during the year 2015 so far comes to be Rs 287.926 million.

It may be mentioned here that some ministers particularly of Balochistan have a soft corner for smuggling because of unavailability of employment opportunities as well as geo-political crisis in the province.

A couple of years back, collector Gawadar Dr Arsalan Subuctageen and his team were removed because of their relentless efforts against smuggling. The entire team was removed on the directions of an influential provincial minister.

Sources said that smuggling was only benefitting the smugglers while the masses were still deprived in Balochistan.

Smugglers have developed their links and contacts so strong that they guarantee deliver of smuggled goods to the destination anywhere in Pakistan. These smugglers make contacts on ‘done basis’. Special purpose buses are used for this purpose.

If anti-smuggling crack down cannot be undertaken in Balochistan beacsue of the patronage by influential elements, FBR should take strict action against these special purpose buses and these should be confiscated.

KARACHI: The Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Hyderabad has seized a large quantity of smuggled Irani diesel and lodged an FIR against a lubricant company and driver of the vehicle transporting smuggled commodity.

According to the details of the case, information was received through Additional Collector Umar Shafique that an Oil Tanker bearing registration No. TLZ-298 is loaded with 60,000 liters HSD of Iranian Origin filled from Hub Baluchistan and is going to move to Punjab through Super High Way.

ASO Hyderabad organized a Custom Party headed by Shafi Jamali, Inspector to foil the attempt of smuggling and deployed a team at By Pass, Hyderabad.

The oil tanker was intercepted and the driver of the said oil tanker informed that it contained 60,000 liters of Reclaimed Gas Oil and produced Delivery Challan and outward/Inward gate pass issued by M/s Al Jabble Lubricants Limited, Karachi.

On examination of the said documents it was found that 60,000 litres Reclaimed Gas Oil has been loaded for Khan Petroleum, Lahore by M/s Al Jabble Lubricants from Moch Goth factory of the said concern. The Customs Team took over the possession of the said oil tanker duly and brought it to the Custom House, Hyderabad. Later it transpired that the goods were actually HSD smuggled from Iran.

Moreover, the clever concealment of the ggods clearly indicates that organized smuggling was being done. Furthermore, the driver during initial interrogation revealed that indeed the load being carried in the said tanker was loaded from location in Hub, Balouchistan.

The seizing agency in view of above is of the opinion that the recovered High Speed Diesel is smuggled one and has been brought in the country through un-authorized channel. Therefore, 60,000 litres alongwith oil tanker bearing registration No.TLZ-298 being used for transportation of smuggled HSD has been seized and FIR has been lodged.

KARACHI: The Anti Smuggling Organization (ASO) Hyderabad has seized a large quantity of smuggled Irani diesel and lodged an FIR against staff of Hascol Petroleum Limited and others for aiding and abetting smuggling of this commodity.

According to the details of the case information was received through Additional Collector MCC, Hyderabad Omar Shafique regarding smuggling of Irani diesel.

The modus operandi of the unscrupulous elements is that the oil tankers are loaded with HSD diesel from supply point of an oil marketing company; Hascol Petroleum in the instant case, but the seals issued by the company are not applied there.

The oil tanker than unloads the commodity at some point in Karachi, returns back to Hub Balochistan and loads similar quantity of the smuggled diesel is loaded and then the seal issued by the oil company; Hascol in this case; are applied to cover smuggling of Irani diesel.

Pursuant to information received through Omar Shafique, ASO Hyderabad organized a Custom Party headed by Shafi Jamali, Inspector to foil the attempt of smuggling and deployed a team at By Pass , Hyderabad near P.S. Hatri.

An oil tanker was intercepted. When the driver of the said oil tanker was asked about the loaded goods, he disclosed that 60,000 litres HSD is available in the oil tanker and handed over the documents regarding HSD. He produced Stock Transfer Form issued by M/s Hascol Petroleum Limited, Karachi.

On examination of the said Invoice it was found that 60,000 litres HSD has been loaded for Shikarpur Depot by M/s Hascol Petroleum Limited from Al-Rahim Keamari. The oil tanker was dispatched from supply point on 19.08.2015 at 09.30 P.M. but was intercepted at 11.PM on 20.08.2015 at Bypass Hyderabad after a lapse of more than 24 hours . When the driver was asked about the delay from Kemari to Bypass he could not satisfy the ASO staff.

Furthermore, all Chambers were examined by the team and found all the three chambers sealed with the seals provided by the Hascol Petroleum Limited and duly indicated in the said stock Transfer form. The Customs Team took over the possession of the said oil tanker and brought it to the Custom House, Hyderabad.

Hascol Petroleum was duly informed and requested to provide samples of HSD filled by the company at Al Rahim Keamari. The sealed samples were duly provided. Moreover, samples were drawn from the said tanker. A marked difference between the two in colour and smell was noted.

Moreover the sample obtained from the tanker was also compared with the samples already obtained from the previously seized Iranian Diesel supplies and they almost matched. The driver during initial interrogation revealed that the load being carried in the said tanker was loaded from location in Hub, Balouchistan.

Therefore, 60,000 litres alongwith oil tanker bearing registration No.TLE-414 being used for transportation of smuggled HSD has been seized and FIR has been lodged.

KARACHI: The Directorate of Post Clearance Audit (PCA) has found evasion of duty and taxes of Rs18.866 million by M/s BSN Medical Private Limited by way of mis-declaration.

According to the details of the case, scrutiny of import data of M/S BSN Medical Private Limited imported various consignments of Calcium Sulphate, Pharmaceutical Grade and cleared the same from MCC Appraisement (West) and MCC Appraisement (East) through their various clearing agents by mis-declaring the goods under PCT 2520.1010 attracting Customs Duty at 10 percent whereas the goods are correctly classifiable under PCT heading 2520.2000 chargeable to Customs Duty at 15 percent.

Thus M/s BSN Medical Private Limited by mis-declaration of classification evaded/short paid duty and taxes to the tune of Rs18.866.