KARACHI: Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) has detained a consignment of plant and machinery imported by M/s Lucky Cement due to tax evasion. The wrongful tariff classification implied short-payment of legitimate government revenue of Rs81.84 million.
Sources said that on the directives of Director I&I Khalil Yousafani, a shipment imported by Lucky Cement declared to be new plant and machinery for manufacturing of Portland cement (9,000 tons/day) was detained at the port last month.
Sources further said that the consignment was detained at the gate-out stage as the importer had already paid the self-assessed duty and taxes.
On the directives of Additional Director Ghulam Nabi Kamboh and Deputy Director Tauseef Gorchani, the examination of the goods, scrutiny of Goods Declaration (GD) and relevant documents uploaded in the system were performed by Principal Appraiser R&A Muhammad Farooq and Appraising Officer Ilyas Gichki.
It was detected that the imported goods i.e. pre-heater steel structures and anchor bolts were cleared against wrong Customs Tariff meant for plant, machinery and equipment.
Customs I&I Karachi also served a notice on Lucky Cement for the recovery of short-levied revenue of Rs81.84 million, while the entire consignment was detained. Further proceedings are still in progress till the filing of this report.
