M/s Bahria Town may “face the music” in import of vehicles on fake NOCs
KARACHI: A 2-member team of Appraisement-West’s Appraising Intelligence Branch (AIB/R&D) comprising Appraiser Shair Khan and Examining officer Anwar Zaib will leave for Islamabad today (Tuesday) to investigate the case regarding the import of land cruisers on fake letter of Federal Ministry of Interior.
Sources informed Customs Today that the AIB team during its weeklong stay will check the veracity/authenticity of No-Objection Certificate (NOC), provided by the importer M/s Bahria Town and clearing agent on importation of land cruisers into country.
Sources further informed that the Pakistan Customs has found that the fake NOCs were being used in importation of vehicles and the authorities concerned have already written a letter to the check the veracity of issued NOCs in this regard.
“The high-ups of the Collectorate have issued directives to the authorities concerned of AIB/R&D to visit to the office of the Ministry of Interior by themselves in order to check the authenticity of the issued NOCs as influential importers are behind the import of said vehicles on fake NOCs”, sources added.
It is pertinent to mention here that the current investigation is being conducted in connection with an FIRs registered by the AIB/R&D, last year in which it found that the importer M/s Bahria Town imported around seven vehicles on fake NOCs of Federal Ministry of Interior.
Sources further said that the clearing agents were often involved in such type of crimes, as they are often involved in preparing fake NOCs in order to mint money without informing the importer.
“The Customs authorities are taking the matter closely and tried not to take any step which defame the name of any reputable importer or organization”, they added.
It may be mentioned here that the AIB/R&D of MCC Appraisement-West after registering the FIRs into the said case have already recovered around five vehicles from different locations in Karachi, however; it could not arrest any person who found involved in such criminal activity.
Sources further revealed that the AIB team during its weeklong stay in Islamabad will also investigate the case linked with the importer M/s Right way Trading Company, in which it was imported solar panels along with the permission of Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) which is also a dubious one.
