Officials asked to crack down on tax evaders

PESHAWAR: Chief Commissioner Inland Revenue, Regional Tax Office, Aqeel Ahmad Siddiqui has directed the mobile squads to pace up operations against sales tax evaders.

For the purpose, check posts are also being established at different points in Peshawar and adjacent districts. The mobile squads successfully seized goods and vehicles carrying these goods, said a press release issued here on Thursday.

The seized goods include 88,000kg steel valuing Rs12,591,850, 55,399kg ghee valuing Rs21,397,604, 13000-meter cloth valuing Rs112,500, and 55 cartons of shoes valuing Rs500,940.

The goods were being supplied from the manufacturing undertakings established in the erstwhile Fata/Pata areas and sales tax liability was not paid off.

The total revenue involved is Rs5,702,154 and this includes sales tax and penalty on the goods amounting to Rs2,021,920 on steel, Rs3,580,234 on ghee, and Rs50,000 on shoes and cloth each.

Furthermore, 24 vehicles were seized in the process, of which 19 were released after payment of due tax and penalty.

Chief Commissioner Aqeel Ahmad Siddiqui warned the manufacturing units located in the newly merged areas to collect sales tax and pay the same thereof according to the law, otherwise strict action would be taken against the evaders.