KARACHI: Customs Appraisement West has registered at least four FIRs against pesticide importers.
The importers included M/s Sino Pak Chemicals, Multan, M/s Pak Farming Care, Multan, M/s Biz Care International, Multan and M/s PFC International, Multan for tampering Goods Declaration (GD) documents.
According to sources, these importers had imported different agricultural pesticides under Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance 1971 (II of 1791), while the drugs are registered under Drugs Act 1976 (XXXI of 1976).
The documents of consignments (Certificate of Registration) for import of these goods and furnished by the importers were forwarded to the Plant Protection Department via Deputy Collector Customs (Examination) Customs Appraisement West for verification.
As per the procedures, an importer is bound to furnish/submit a registration certificate of Department of Plant Protection and pre-shipment inspection certificate from a designated pre-shipment inspection company.
The Department of Plant Protection on October 10, 2015 intimated that the registration certificate of the said GDs have been found tampered/fake.
In view of the said findings, it was quite clear that the said named importers and their associates have contravened the provision of Section Customs Act 1969 given in FIR reports and his is punishable under clause 9, 14,14A and 46 of Section 156(I0 of the Customs Act 1969 read with Agriculture Pesticides Ordinance 1971 and allied laws. Accordingly FIRs were lodged.
Arshad Ahmad Appraising Officer Customs West is the complainant person in these cases. Sino Pak imported value was Rs 9.92 million, Pak Farming Care Rs 6.88 million, Biz Care International Rs 7.13 million and the imported value of PFC International was Rs 3.94 million, sources added.
