Amraiz Khan Lahore
Dairy cows importers with the active connivance of Customs officials and clearing agencies are involved in under invoicing and mis-declaration causing heavy losses to the national exchequer.
An import firm put the matter in the notice of the Prime Minister of Pakistan through a letter. The firm disclosed that the actual exporter cost of a cow is USD 2600 to USD 2800 per cow but on arrival in Pakistan its value is declared USD 1000 to USD 1200 only.
Interestingly, the value at which Cows are being s old to farmers is USD 3300 per cow, while 40% – 50% of the amount is being laundered.
It may also be noted that most of the importers are importing substandard animals and thus causing serious damages to the industry and farmers. There is no check of any department on this mal-practice and corruption.
The letter says, “Pakistan, in the recent past, has become a major importer of Dairy Cows, Dairy Farm equipments and other Animal products. The techniques and Farm management practices have also substantially changed.
The Dairy Industry is rapidly shifting from manual to mechanized management. In this operation of mechanization & automation, most of the importers/clearing agencies barring a few have resorted to un-ethical practices including under invoicing and mis-declaration”.
AS per letter, the Dairy cows are mainly imported from Australia, USA and a few other European countries. The Dairy equipments are imported from Turkey, China and a few European countries.
In this process of import, some illegal and immoral practices have become a common phenomenon and this situation is causing huge damages to the public exchequer. Following mal and corrupt practices are indicated for your consideration and remedial measures.
The declaration of extra ordinary and exorbitantly low values saves the importers from genuine taxes and duties.
This tax evasion is causing tremendous financial losses to the Government. This illegal activity results in tax evasion, Capital flight, Corruption and Money-Laundering.
Mainly the Dairy and Farm equipments are being imported from Turkey, China and few European countries.
The importers and clearing agencies are invariably engaged in immoral and mal-practice of under invoicing and mis-declaration. This situation is resulting in gross losses to the Government and market instability.
The genuine importer is grossly suffering from this un-checked corruption. The relevant authorities don’t seem to be serious for control which is unfortunate. The letter recommended that all imports including Dairy Cows and Farm equipments should be checked and analyzed.
The import record of the previous few years should be analyzed and audited. The taxes and duties paid less than actual amount should be recovered and heavy punishments should be given to these corrupt elements.
A committee comprising customs/Custom intelligence, FBR representative and FIA should be instituted for fact finding and investigation. All the Animals importers should be interrogated and cross examined by the enquiry/Fact finding committee.
This direct access of Government bodies with private set up will prove to be effective for curbing this illegal activity.
Such Grey & Black activities must come to an end. Pakistan customs should obtain the actual export documents of such consignments from the countries of origin.
Preventive mechanisms should be devised for effective control of mis-declaration which causes serious losses. Stringent actions should be undertaken against the defaulters.
is rapidly shifting from manual to mechanized management. In this operation of mechanization & automation, most of the importers/clearing agencies barring a few have resorted to un-ethical practices including under invoicing and mis-declaration”.
AS per letter, the Dairy cows are mainly imported from Australia, USA and a few other European countries. The Dairy equipments are imported from Turkey, China and a few European countries.
In this process of import, some illegal and immoral practices have become a common phenomenon and this situation is causing huge damages to the public exchequer. Following mal and corrupt practices are indicated for your consideration and remedial measures.
The declaration of extra ordinary and exorbitantly low values saves the importers from genuine taxes and duties.
This tax evasion is causing tremendous financial losses to the Government. This illegal activity results in tax evasion, Capital flight, Corruption and Money-Laundering.
Mainly the Dairy and Farm equipments are being imported from Turkey, China and few European countries. The importers and clearing agencies are invariably engaged in immoral and mal-practice of under invoicing and mis-declaration.
This situation is resulting in gross losses to the Government and market instability. The genuine importer is grossly suffering from this un-checked corruption.
The relevant authorities don’t seem to be serious for control which is unfortunate. The letter recommended that all imports including Dairy Cows and Farm equipments should be checked and analyzed.
The import record of the previous few years should be analyzed and audited. The taxes and duties paid less than actual amount should be recovered and heavy punishments should be given to these corrupt elements.
A committee comprising customs/Custom intelligence, FBR representative and FIA should be instituted for fact finding and investigation.
All the Animals importers should be interrogated and cross examined by the enquiry/Fact finding committee.
This direct access of Government bodies with private set up will prove to be effective for curbing this illegal activity.
Such Grey & Black activities must come to an end. Pakistan customs should obtain the actual export documents of such consignments from the countries of origin.
Preventive mechanisms should be devised for effective control of mis-declaration which causes serious losses. Stringent actions should be undertaken against the defaulters.
