KARACHI: The Customs Collectorate of Appraisement East is investigating the misuse of a pay-order worth Rs 2,359,200. The complainant, Muhammad Saleem Khan, Appraising Officer at Research and Development Section, Appraisement East, Customs House, Karachi has registered the First Information Report against illegal removal of pay-order in the Securities Section of the Collectorate.
The FIR mentioned that Malik Sarfaraz Nawaz, proprietor of M/s Malik Corporation, situated at G-K-8/9 Shop NoF/8 9, Kharadar, Karachi and Naeem Attar of National Bank of Pakistan have been found involved in misusing pay-order worth Rs 2, 359, 200.
According to Saleem Khan, particular pay-order was subsequently deposited into un-authorised Customs Computerised System (WeBOC) Personal Deposit Accounts of unofficial importers with the active connivance of concerned WeBOC collection counter staff of NBP, Karachi.
Saleem Khan said that information was received that pay-order have been remove illegally from securities section of the Collectorate and deposited into PD Accounts of the un-authorized delinquent importers illegally.
He shared that personal deposit or pact-deposit account is a facility by which government allows the users of WeBOC system (traders as well as customs agents) to deposit their funds with the government in advance.
He further said that the funds deposited are utilized by the owner of PD Accounts for payment of duty and taxes towards his customs liabilities arising in WeBOC system during the course of import/export by the owner. These PD Accounts are maintained on the basis of NTN of the WeBOC user.”
He shared the information that a pay-order number P.O. No.99352567843 dated 02/12/2016 issued by Meezan Bank, situated at M.A. Jinnah Road Branch, Karachi on account of M/s Qamar and Co (NTN 2442089), authorised importer, was illegally and allegedly deposited into PD Account of Malik Corporation (NTN 4292395-6), whose owner is accused Malik Sarfaraz Nawaz.
Saleem Khan added that during initial investigation revealed that Naeem Attar was actively involved in this illegal depositing of pay-order. He mentioned that at the time of deposit of funds into PD Accounts by the NBP, the WeBOC system asks the NTN number of PD account holder, in which funds are to be deposited. After entering NTN number by the bank official, the WeBOC system displays name of the PD Account Holder.
“It is responsibility of concerned functionary of NBP to check the PD Account Holder name displayed by the WeBOC system and the name of authorized importer on pay-order.”
Saleem Khan told Customs Today that only, if both names are matched, the pay-order should be accepted for PD account deposit. Otherwise, it is not allowed.
He claimed that Naeem Attar entered the NTN number of accused Malik Sarfaraz Nawaz despite the fact that the pay-order was in the name o M/s Qamar and Company.
He also mentioned that the co-accused Naeem Attar has submit false information into WeBOC system electronically in order to defraud the government from its legitimate asset and committed a fiscal fraud as defined under Sections 32-A of the Customs Act, 1969, punishable under clause 14-A of Section 156(1) of the Customs Act, 1969.
