Illegal removal of goods: 97 auto parts importers identified by MCC

A total of 97 auto parts importers have been found involved in illegal removal of goods from M/s. Pakistan Shaheen, off Dock Container Terminal Karachi by the Model Customs Collectorate (MCC) of (Appraisement), Customs House, Karachi. The "unscrupulous importers" have been identified following scrutiny of relevant data by the MCC.
Omar Shafique, Deputy Collector, MCC of Appraisement in a letter sent to the Additional Collector - IV, MCC of Appraisement on December 17, 2011, has requested that all the respective examination and assessment sections be directed to properly scrutinise the relevant import documents and the consignments imported by any of these importers. Further, amendments/cancellations of the Goods Declaration and the manifest pertaining to these importers may also be intimated to him. A list of the importers has also been attached.
Influential among these importers who are facing proceedings for their black listing are reportedly pressurising the customs officers to withdraw the letter against them. Sources in Pakistan Customs, however, confirmed that despite pressure the list of 97 suspended importers has been circulated by higher customs authorities to in all the relevant sections and departments of Pakistan Customs with the directives for strict compliance.
A customs official, on condition of anonymity said though "Pakistan customs officials are facing a lot of pressure from the suspended importers to withdraw the letter against them, a firm stand has been taken by the officials to curb the illegal activities of mis-declaration and under-invoicing of imported auto parts." Stakeholders have appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Customs in not giving up investigations. The official further pointed out that MCC found major illegal movement of goods from docks without any legal documentation and procedure such as mis-declaration of weight during the import of goods from different countries.
Stakeholders explained that stealing weight of auto parts cause major duty reduction by not following SRO 329 and clear goods at their true weight. These consignments are cleared in units either or shown less weight of each part at customs to save duty and taxes at actual. "Declaring goods specification in wrong way also fall goods in different PTC which saves additional duty/anti-dumping duty." This has hit local industries of auto parts manufacturers badly as well as caused major revenue loss to national exchequer, they said.
Representatives of Pakistan Association of Automotive Parts Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) and Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) have already informed concerned authorities about these illegal activities of mis-declaration and under-invoicing. These illegal activities were a threat for local industry and cause of huge loss of revenue to national exchequer.
They commended Pakistan Customs'' action against a lobby that according to them is into spoiling local industries and scaring foreign investors. They demanded to penalise all these importers involved in illegal activities and ban them by their NTN numbers instead of importer''s name. "A strict action is needed against all these traders involved in illegal activities so that they should not be able to register a new company which may cause major damages to the society and revenue," they said.
They were confident that Pakistan Customs would ensure strict vigilance to curb these illegal activities on permanent basis. They also suggested taking on board the association of part makers and car producers who could help the government in scrutinising these culprits and recover actual duties and taxes from them.