KARACHI: The Customs Adjudication-I has issued a show cause notice to M/s Pakistan Mobile Communication Limited (Mobilink) for short-payment/evasion of around Rs 300 million through mis-declaration.
During the scrutiny of data of ‘lead acid VRLA batteries for telephone exchanges, which were imported under PCT heading 8507.2010, the department concerned observed that certain mobile communication companies have imported multipurpose batteries, evidently not for the use in telephone exchanges under this PCT heading, while such batteries are correctly classifiable under PCT Heading 8507.2090 chargeable to customs duty at 20 percent.
Thus by mis-declaring these multi-purpose batteries under PCT heading 8507.2010, they have made a deliberate and willful attempt to evade duty/taxes, the department found.
It was alleged that M/s. Pakistan Mobile Company Ltd, imported ‘cellular infrastructure equipment for telecom sector consisting of VRLA gel battery (12V), rechargeable battery (12V) and SBS EON 190 (12V) by mis-declaring them in the PCT Heading 8507.2010.
Thus, by way of mis-declaration of classification, M/s Pakistan Mobile Company Ltd, with the active connivance of its clearing agents named M/s Saspak Cargo (Pvt) Ltd and M/s. Eastern Freighters has evaded/short paid around Rs 300 million.
In this regard, the Customs Adjudication-I has issued a show cause notice to the importer asking him to clarify their position or contest the case before the authority.
