KARACHI : Tax evaders have escalated usage of dry ports as the concerned authorities have taken strict measures against them.
As a result of the said activity, work load on dry ports of Islamabad, Faisalabad, Peshawar and Sambrail has swelled by 60pc. Similarly, 60pc reduction in submission of documents of goods declaration has been witnessed.
According to details, national exchequer is suffering loss in billions in terms of revenue collection as wicked practices of under-invoicing, miss-declaration and forgery are at their peak whereas disappearance of containers filled with goods before reaching dry ports has now become a routine practice.
Customs sources revealed significant decrease in imports activity at various ports of Karachi in result of strict measures taken by the department aimed at curbing tax evasion. Customs sources further revealed that hundreds of containers that were cleared at Karachi port did not reach their desired destinations.
These containers were emptied on their way to dry ports as a result of which customs duty was not paid upon their arrival at dry ports, told customs cources.
Inside aware further narrated that customs officials receive bribe worth Rs4 lacs to Rs5 lacs for clearance of each container.
Punjab government has set dry port in Faisalabad to facilitate traders and importers of province. The step was taken as traders in Punjab had to stay in Karachi for more than usual routine just for clearance of their consignments at Karachi port.
Sources reveled that containers that were cleared at dry ports of Peshawar and Sambrial contained spare parts of computers, electronics and cosmetics.
In just one year, at least 500 containers of silk were miss-declared as containers of polyester at Peshawar dry port thus resulting in loss of millions. It may be noticed that Directorate General of Customs Valuation has set import value of polyester at $4.40/kg whereas that of silk stands at $50/kg to $60/kg.