LAHORE: In less than a week’s time, the Collectorate of Customs Exports, Port Mohammad Bin Qasim (PMBQ) has thwarted yet another attempt of misuse of export processing zone (EPZ) facility to the investors and has lodged a criminal case against M/s AAA Packages, established in Export Processing Zone (EPZ), Landhi Industrial Area.
According to PMBQ, the investor obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Export Processing Zone Authority for import of rejected plastic rolls waste through their authorized Clearing Agent M/s. Ahsan Traders.
However, physical examination of the goods revealed that goods are CTCP Printing Plates assorted size total quantity 33,504 square meters, which implies that the accused in connivance with his authorized Customs Clearing Agent has made an attempt to import high value CTCP printing plate valuing $97,161.6 which is otherwise liable to duty and taxes to the tune of Rs.9,459,981/- (Customs Duty Rs1867,615/-,Additional Customs Duty Rs339,566.4/-Sales Tax Rs3,550,167.13, Additional Sales Tax Rs626,500/-,Regulatory Duty Rs1,697,832, Income Tax Rs1,378,300/-) under the guise of rejected plastic rolls waste. The value of the offending goods has been calculated at Rs16,978,322/-.
According to PMBQ, from the foregoing facts and circumstances of the case it was established that M/s. AAA Packages, EPZ Karachi with the collusion of their authorized clearing agent have committed an offence which fall within the ambit of Section 32 (1), (2),32A (1), (2), and 79 (1) of Customs Act, 1969 punishable under Clause 1 (i),14 (i), (14A),44 of Section 156(1) ibid read with Section 3, 6 and 7 of the Sales Tax Act 1990 punishable under Clause 5 of Section 33 (1) ibid further read with Section 148 (1) of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 punishable under Clause 15 of Section 182(1) ibid.
