Pakistan Customs initiated a complete review of pay orders presented during the last two years at the Azakhel Dry Port located in Nowshera. Insiders told ProPakistani that investigators found suspected forged documents in industrial sales tax exemption cases meant for the former FATA and PATA areas.
Abdul Waheed Marwat, who serves as the Chief Collector of Customs Appraisement Peshawar, ordered the financial review.
Authorities filed three first information reports regarding the alleged submission of fraudulent pay orders. Company representatives and customs staff are included among the individuals named in these legal filings.
Case paperwork indicates that importers used these pay orders instead of paying sales tax while claiming exemptions for industrial facilities in FATA and PATA zones.
These shipments contained imported coated fabric, LED television components, and green as well as black tea.
One file points to a fake pay order totaling Rs. 7.55 million for sales tax on imported coated fabric. A second file involves an alleged pay order worth Rs. 21.17 million tied to imported LED television components.
Files additionally detail an instance where 18 suspected forged pay orders totaling roughly Rs. 76.38 million were presented for tea shipments.
Financial institutions reached out to by customs investigators confirmed that the payment instruments were counterfeit or altered. Accusations state that individuals tried passing off these papers as valid tax payments. None of the accused individuals have faced conviction yet.
The upcoming audit will look at all pay orders handed in over the past two years alongside related transactions to uncover the full scope of potential wrongdoing.
Investigative paperwork also implicates customs staff in certain incidents, while ongoing inquiries will establish further accountability.
