By Parvaiz Ishfaq Rana
KARACHI, April 23: The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has unearthed a scam involving import of vehicles on fake and forged documents. The board has directed all collectorates of customs to undertake strict scrutiny of documents, including passports furnished by importers or passengers for the release of vehicles, official sources disclosed on Monday.
Sources said the CBR had issued these directives on a report of Collectorate of Customs (Appraisement), Karachi, which revealed that vehicles were cleared on fake and forged documents. The appraisement collectorate pointed out a number of cases wherein attempts were made to clear vehicles on passports bearing fake and forged arrival and departure stamps.
According to the findings of the appraisement collectorate these passports were affixed with departure and arrival stamps bearing no code number of the immigration officer. The customs sources said that in some cases the removable seal were found on the UAE visa stamp of the passengers, besides, tampering of the visa stamp viz-a-viz employment status of the passenger.
The customs authorities forwarded the particulars of such passports to the immigration department at the Karachi Airport for confirmation. According to the findings of the immigration office there was no travelling record in respect of the passengers in the PISCES database.
The CBR has now directed all the collectorates to undertake scrutiny of passports furnished by passengers for the release of vehicles allowed under the Appendix-E of the Import Policy Order, 2006.
The CBR has further directed that vehicles imported on forged and tampered documents may be released against redemption fine after imposing penalty on the passengers and clearing agents in terms of clauses (9) and (14) of sub-section 1 of section 156 of the Customs Act, 1969 read with SRO 255(I)/2007 dated March 17, 2007.
The board has further advised that the tampered passports be forwarded to FIA for taking appropriate action in terms of the relevant provisions of law.
According to figures released by the Customs authorities, Karachi 20,784 vehicles of different categories and engine power were imported during the first nine months (July to March) of the current fiscal. The value of these vehicles stood at around Rs9.126 billion, thereby yielding Rs4.755 billion customs duty.
Most of these vehicles are imported under transfer of residence (TR), personal baggage and gift scheme. Vehicles imported under CBU (complete built-up unit) up to 1,800cc are cleared by the appraisement collectorate but the vehicles, mostly luxury cars and packed in containers are cleared and assessed by the Model Collectorate of Customs (MCC).
Customs insiders say that most of such vehicles are normally declared of having standard fittings but actually they are loaded vehicles with modern electronic fittings and accessories and if assessed properly, can generate customs duty worth millions of rupees.
The sources also quoted officials conceding that vehicles were also being cleared on students studying abroad as well as visit visas, thereby, causing huge revenue loss to the national exchequer.
Customs figures revealed that from July to March, 2006-07 9,117 vehicles were imported under personal baggage scheme having a value of Rs3.303 billion and fetched around Rs2.054 billion towards customs duty. Under transfer of residence scheme 3,701 vehicles were imported having a cost of Rs909 million and netted customs duty of Rs568 million.
A fairly large number of 1,112 brand new cares have been imported in CBU condition having import value of Rs1.290 billion, which yielded Rs897 million towards customs duty. A total of 1,415 luxury cars having engine power of 1,801cc to 3,000cc were imported ruing this period whereas 132 cars of above 3,000cc were imported.
Furthermore 1,638 four-wheel drive (4x4) jeeps were also entered the country having a total value of Rs1.426 billion. Out of a total import of 20,784 CBU vehicles 1,397 were cars and jeeps having import value of Rs5.619 billion and customs duty element of Rs3.538 billion.
The figures disclosed that 6,813 buses, trucks, dumpers, agriculture tractor, vans, pickups and motorcycles or scooters were imported in CBU condition. However, the highest number was of trucks, which stood at 3,137 having import value of Rs1.099 billion and customs duty Rs411 million.
It could not be said that how many of these vehicles have been cleared on fake and forged documents because it has been complained that many such vehicles were cleared on students and visit visas and only proper investigation by the authorities could ascertain the magnitude of the scam in import of vehicles, customs insiders said.