LAHORE: The misuse of TP facility can impose huge losses to the national exchequer and if the misuse is not addressed the legal trade suffers immensely.
These views were expressed by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Vice President Zeshan Khalil while reacting upon the misuse of TP facility by Principle Appraiser Dost Muhammad at R&D section of Appraisement East, Karachi.
Importers of Lahore taking strong exception demanded the customs top authorities to bring to the book the elements involved in betel nuts smuggling in Karachi.
The importers were of the view that their legal import is stopped while criminal elements in connivance with the customs inspectors, appraisers and examiners are busy in clearing their illegal import.
They said that the a few black sheep like Principal Appraiser Dost Muhammad are not performing their duty properly due to which customs exchequer has to bear a loss of billions of rupees each day.
They added that smuggling through mis-use of transship permit (TP) facility has been detected several times recently but customs high-ups are not worried about the corruption and gave no heed to cries of importers against corrupt practices at Karachi ports by customs staff.
They said illegal items including chemicals, betel nuts and drugs are being poured into Pakistan through crooked customs elements by smugglers through green & yellow channel.
An importer of The Mall on the condition of anonymity said that illegal clearance of contraband items like dangerous chemicals and betel nuts is not only causing serious loss to the exchequer but also defaming the customs department.
The importers have urged the FBR top officials to take notice of the gross misuse of TP facility by Dost Muhammad.
