ISLAMABAD (May 30 2003) : The Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has started investigation on the misuse of ghee export facility to Afghanistan where majority of the 'exported ghee' is coming back to Pakistan after claiming rebate.
The CBR on Thursday issued instructions to the collectors of Custom, Peshawar and Quetta, to investigate the matter on top priority basis.
The Custom authorities have quoted a news item published in Business Recorder on May 27, 2003 and asked the regional collectorates to submit a comprehensive report in the light of reported allegations.
Sources said that the custom authorities were mum on the issue till the publication of report, which prompted the authorities to take action.
A meeting of the customs officials was called wherein it was decided to thoroughly probe the matter.
The collector Peshawar would monitor the Torkham border, while the collector Quetta would keep vigil on Chaman border to ascertain the facts.
The regional custom would particularly investigate that how the exporters change routes after getting entry certificate from the authorities at the border and then manage its comeback from the other route.
The CBR would take further action after receiving reports from the collectors of both the cities.
The exporters manage to bring back their consignment after completing requirement to get rebate on their consignments and later offer them for sales at substantially low prices.
The industrialists said that return of ghee exported to Afghanistan could cripple the whole industry as the price difference between ghee produced for local consumption and return from Afghanistan was a big attraction to mint money even at the cost of national interests.
