KARACHI: The Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I has decided 211 cases involving Rs 22.15 billion evaded customs duty and taxes during the time period from November 12 to May 14.
According to the details, three collectors served as Collector of Customs Adjudication-I during November 12 to May 14.
In the reign of Collector Abdul Rasheed Shaikh (Nov 12 to Jan 13), the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I could not decide any case.
Subsequently, Dr Manzoor Memon took charge as Collector, Adjudication-I from Jan 13 to June 13.
In his reign, the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I had decided 92 cases of evaded duty/taxes and issued Order-in-Originals (ONOs) for recovery of Rs19.56 billion.
It is pertinent to mention here that the General Amnesty Scheme and Vehicle Amnesty Scheme were also falling in the said time period.
One of the biggest cases of tax evasion of Rs 12 billion related to Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) also decided in the reign of Collector, Dr Manzoor Memon.
Afterwards, Syed Shahanshah Hasnain took charge as Collector, Customs Adjudication-I and served on the said post from July 2013 to May 2014.
In his reign, the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I decided 119 cases of evaded duty/taxes amounting to Rs 2.59 billion.
It may be mentioned here that the major case of duty/taxes evasion related to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) was decided in the reign of Collector, Syed Shahanshah Hasnain.
Now, Ahmed Mujtaba Memon is serving as Collector, Customs Adjudication-I from May 2014.
In his reign, more than Rs 6 billion cases of evaded duty/taxes have been detected in 83 cases and among two of them were of serious nature linked to Pakistan Telecommunication (Mobilink) and Shaheen Air International Limited involving billions of rupees evaded duty and taxes.
It may be mentioned here that the Collectorate of Customs Adjudication-I is dealing with the cases (contravention reports/seizure reports) forwarded by different Collectorates including MCC-Appraisement (West), MCC-Preventive, MCC-Port Qasim, Directorate General of Customs Intelligence and Investigation-FBR and Directorate of Post Clearance Audit (PCA).