KARACHI: The Research and Development (R&D) Section of Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) of Appraisement-East has detected a case of huge tax evasion of Rs308million by importer M/s Royal Packages (Pvt) Ltd on misusing the SRO811(I)/2009.
Sources in R&D Section informed Customs Today that the 12 consignments of polythene and polypropylene, imported by M/s Royal Packages (Pvt) Ltd have been detained by the Collectorate after detection of huge revenue scam.
Subsequently, when the R&D Section conducted inquiries and physical inspection of the consignments found that the M/s Royal Packages (Pvt) Ltd has no facility of manufacturing mono-filament yarn and net cloth.
It further said that the misuse of exemption has been established by the fact that the consignments at the port were intercepted by R&D Section and sensing it, the importer did not claim benefit of SRO in the GD filed subsequently.
“The M/s Royal Packages (Pvt) Ltd, have so far availed exemption of duty/taxes to the tune of Rs308million on consignments imported through this Collectorate since 01-01-2012”, it added.
The sources further claimed that the necessary proceedings have been initiated for violation of the relevant provisions of the Customs Act, 1969 and massive evasion of duty/taxes. Further progress with regard to the said importer and other such entities involved in this case will be made available to the Board in due course.
It further apprised this scribe that the Collector MCC-Appraisement (East) Najeeb-ur-Rehman Abbasi has written a letter to Member Customs, Nisar Muhammad Ali that various importers-cum-manufacturers of polythene and polypropylene were misusing concessionary treatment envisaged in SRO811(I)/2009, adding that the said SRO was only granting exemption from Customs duty on import of polythene and polypropylene for manufacture of mono-filament yarn and net cloth.
The letter further stated that the sales tax exemption was also available which was subsequently withdrawn vide SRO152(I)/2013.
