Model Customs Collectorate (MCC), Port Qasim has lodged an FIR against the importer, who is involved taking undue tax benefit and submitted fake pay order to get the delivery of the consignment.

According to details, the department has received the pay order for the provisional assessment of consignment of the importer against goods declaration, which contained assorted pile fabric and their accessories while claiming the benefit of SRO 1125(I)/2011 for the release of their consignment at zero rating of sales tax.

The importer has requested for provisional assessment, which required the submission of pay order for the differential amount between sales tax difference of 0 percent and 9 percent along with the difference as value of finished and unfinished fabric for assessment of their consignment in terms of section 81 of the Customs Act 1969. Therefore, he submitted pay order worth Rs 1.85 million in the bank guarantee section Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Karachi.

The suspicion was raised while scrutinizing pay order then the Collectorate sent the pay order to the concerned bank to verify the veracity of the pay order. However, the concerned bank has declined the authenticity of the same, which confirmed that the aforesaid illegal and fraudulent action of the importer constituted an offense under relevant sections of the Act. Consequent upon the said crime, the authority has lodged an FIR against the importer. Further investigation is in progress.