The government has decided to blacklist seven freight forwarders and clearing agents who resorted to clearance of commercial goods under 'Defence stores' to evade duty and taxes. Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that certain firms, operating in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, attempted to get commercial cargo cleared using fake documents to obtain illegal exemption of duty and taxes.
The firms were detected during scrutiny of documents and now it has been proposed to the tax authorities to blacklist these firms. Sources said that some firms are operating as customs agents and commercial cargo clearing companies.
These companies have established business offices in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and use fraudulent techniques to submit forged documents for clearance of commercial cargoes without payment of duty and taxes.
Explaining the reasons for blacklisting certain firms, sources said that the Collectorate of Customs, Rawalpindi, intercepted a consignment in which fake documents were presented for clearance of commercial consignments to obtain illegal exemption of duty and taxes. The cases related to past 12 months.
Taking precautionary measure, the collectorate of customs, Rawalpindi, with the help of relevant directorate, scrutinised the record of these firms and confirmed that the unscrupulous elements had tried to obtain illegal exemption of duty and taxes. However, the collectorate timely lodged FIRs against the persons involved in fraudulent activities.
The Collectorate of Customs, Rawalpindi also carried out recovery proceedings against these companies and now the process of blacklisting these firms is underway, sources added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2007

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