KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I has issued Order-in-Original (ONO) against M/s Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), its clearing agent M/s Rayan and contractor M/s Huawei Technologies.
The Order-in-Original (ONO), issued by the office of the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I, stated that the tax evasion charges against the importer M/s PTCL, its contractor and clearing agent in import of telecommunication equipment amounting to around Rs2 billion have been established.
The ONO further stated that the importer M/s PTCL, its clearing agent and contractor are wilfully involved in import of telecommunication equipment by applying inappropriate PCT Heading, which caused millions of rupees loss to national exchequer in terms of Customs Duty, Sales Tax and Income Tax.
The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I authority concerned further imposed millions of rupees fine/penalty on the importer i.e. M/s PTCL, its contractor and clearing agent.
It is pertinent to mention here that the case was constituted by the Directorate General of Customs Intelligence & Investigation as it found that the importer M/s PTCL was involve in evading millions of rupees tax.
The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication I took several months for adjudicating the case and held numbers of hearings in which fair chances have been given to both the parties i.e. Customs I&I and importer M/s PTCL to present their view points regarding the case.
It may also be mentioned here that it was the sixth tax evasion case against the M/s PTCL in which it was found that the importer was allegedly involved in importing telecommunication equipment in violating the Customs Act, 1969.
Before this case, five tax evasion cases linked with the M/s PTCL have been decided in both the Collectorates of Customs Adjudication I and II.
The sources informed this scribe that the importer M/s PTCL, its clearing agent and contractor have decided to move to the Customs Appeals against the verdict given by the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I.
