KARACHI: The Customs Appellate has rejected an appeal by M/s Zheel Pak Cement (Private) Limited in a tax evasion case filed by Customs Collectorate, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim. The collectorate alleges that the importer, M/s Zheel Pak Cement, has evaded taxes worth millions of rupees.
The sources in Customs Collectorate, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, informed Customs Today that the alleged party (respondent) has moved the Customs Tribunal after rejection of its plea from the Customs Appellate.
The sources further informed Customs Today that the importer M/s Zheel Pak Cement was involved in tax evasion through under-invoicing in the imported consignments of coke/coal through Qasim International Containers Terminal (QICT).
“The importer was open a fake Less Container Load (LCL) in which it described the cost of imported coal/coke at US$450per ton and cleared the consignments, however; the original cost of the imported coal was US$650per ton”, sources added.
The sources further informed that the Collectorate of Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Customs-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim in its post release verification of the said consignments found that the importer M/s Zheel Pak Cement (Pvt) Limited was involved in tax evasion of millions of rupees.
Subsequently, the Customs-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim issued show-cause notice to the importer on which the importer first moved to Sindh High Court (SHC) and then Customs Appellate, but its pleas were being rejected.
Responding to a query, the sources informed that the case has been moved to Customs Tribunal and it would be decided in few days.
The sources hinted that the verdict of the case would come into the favour of Pakistan Customs and millions of rupees would be come into the national exchequer.
