
Fake solar panel importers fined Rs111b
The Directorate of Customs Post Clearance Audit has validated the allegations of large-scale money laundering involving 13 companies that imported solar panels.
The Customs Adjudication Collectorate imposed a massive penalty of Rs111 billion on these companies for bringing in fake solar panel shipments. According to Shiraz Ahmed, Director Post Clearance Audit Karachi, the decision was issued by Deputy Collector Dr Iram Zahra.
Documents reveal that 13 fake importing companies falsely declared solar panel imports worth Rs1.2 trillion to transfer money abroad. Meanwhile, Rs1.4 trillion was deposited into their bank accounts, of which Rs45 billion was deposited in cash.
The adjudication ruling confirmed that these companies did not physically exist and only remained on paper. In their sales tax returns, they reported fake local sales of Rs85 billion under names of fictitious buyers.
As per official record, the fined companies included Bright Star Business Solution, Peshawar (Rs53 billion), Moonlight Traders, Peshawar (Rs21 billion), Smart Impex, Quetta (Rs1.4 billion), Ehsan Importer & Exporter, Quetta (Rs2 billion), Asadullah Enterprises, Quetta (Rs1 billion), SH Traders (Rs1.2 billion), Delta Trading Company, Islamabad (Rs2.6 billion), Sehar International (Rs1.7 billion), Sky Linker Business Chain (Rs2 billion), Sky Linkers Trading Company (Rs8.6 billion), Pak Electronics (Rs500 million), Royal Zone (Rs16 billion) and Solar Site (Rs7.7 billion).
The ruling stated that the accused involved in money laundering did not appear to defend their case, and therefore, an additional fine of Rs45 million was imposed on 45 individuals. Moreover, 327 containers of solar panels imported by Solar Site Pvt Ltd are currently held at Karachi ports. These consignments have been seized and will be auctioned to recover Rs1.5 billion in revenue.
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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Fake solar panel importers fined Rs111b
Listen to article The Directorate of Customs Post Clearance Audit has validated the allegations of large-scale money laundering involving 13 companies that imported solar panels. The Customs Adjudication Collectorate imposed a massive penalty of Rs111 billion on these companies for bringing in fake solar panel shipments. According to Shiraz Ahmed, Director Post Clearance Audit Karachi, the decision was issued by Deputy Collector Dr Iram Zahra. Documents reveal that 13 fake importing companies falsely declared solar panel imports worth Rs1.2 trillion to transfer money abroad. Meanwhile, Rs1.4 trillion was deposited into their bank accounts, of which Rs45 billion was deposited in cash. The adjudication ruling confirmed that these companies did not physically exist and only remained on paper. In their sales tax returns, they reported fake local sales of Rs85 billion under names of fictitious buyers. As per official record, the fined companies included Bright Star Business Solution, Peshawar (Rs53 billion), Moonlight Traders, Peshawar (Rs21 billion), Smart Impex, Quetta (Rs1.4 billion), Ehsan Importer & Exporter, Quetta (Rs2 billion), Asadullah Enterprises, Quetta (Rs1 billion), SH Traders (Rs1.2 billion), Delta Trading Company, Islamabad (Rs2.6 billion), Sehar International (Rs1.7 billion), Sky Linker Business Chain (Rs2 billion), Sky Linkers Trading Company (Rs8.6 billion), Pak Electronics (Rs500 million), Royal Zone (Rs16 billion) and Solar Site (Rs7.7 billion). The ruling stated that the accused involved in money laundering did not appear to defend their case, and therefore, an additional fine of Rs45 million was imposed on 45 individuals. Moreover, 327 containers of solar panels imported by Solar Site Pvt Ltd are currently held at Karachi ports. These consignments have been seized and will be auctioned to recover Rs1.5 billion in revenue.


Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
PAC lambasts govt's faulty sugar policies
Listen to article As a sugar crisis persists in the country, officials on Tuesday shared with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) the names of the 67 sugar mills that exported 750,000 tons of sugar worth Rs111 billion to 21 countries over the past year. During a PAC meeting chaired by Junaid Akbar, the industries and production secretary said in 2023-24 Pakistan had surplus sugar of 1.3 million tons, of which 790,000 tons were approved for export. He said that 1.9 million tons of sugar was still available in stock, which could last until November, adding that the sugar crushing season runs from November 15 to March 15. Despite these figures, several committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. The secretary for national food security claimed that the average retail price of sugar was Rs173 per kg but members, including Omar Ayub, said sugar was sold for more than Rs200 in their constituencies. Senator Fauzia Arshad reported that sugar was nearly unavailable in the market and what was available was unaffordable for ordinary citizens. PAC members heavily criticized the government's inconsistent sugar policiesexporting sugar one year and importing it the next. MNA Khawaja Shehraz Mehmood called it a "daylight robbery" and said that the same companies making huge profits from exports are now benefiting from imports. MNA Amir Dogar made direct allegations against political leaders, claiming that the highest number of sugar mills are owned by President Asif Ali Zardari, politician Jahangir Tareen, and the Sharif family. He alleged that Rs287 billion had gone into the pockets of a few powerful individuals. The remarks caused heated arguments between Dogar and other members, including Senator Afnan Ullah of the PML-N and Shazia Marri of the PPP, who demanded that such serious claims be backed with evidence. Further tension arose when Chairman Akbar questioned why the list of sugar mill owners and directors had not been submitted to the committee earlier. Officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) assured that the list has now been obtained and will be presented soon. He questioned how long sugar remains usable in storage, to which the secretary of industries responded that sugar begins to spoil after 3-4 months unless special precautions are taken. The meeting was told that the government is planning to import 300,000 tons of sugar to meet demand before the next crushing season begins. Lawmakers demanded that the government ensure this import does not harm farmers and that sugar is not brought in from countries where it was earlier exported. The PAC directed all relevant ministries to submit detailed reports and warned that future briefings would not be accepted without complete documentation. According to documents seen by The Express Tribune, JDW Sugar Mills topped the list by exporting 73,000 metric tons of sugar worth Rs11.1 billion. Tandlianwala Sugar Mills came second with 41,412 metric tons worth Rs5.98 billion. Ramzan Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs2.41 billion. Chaudhry Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs1.49 billion while Al-Arabia Sugar Mills exported Rs1.2 billion worth of sugar. The Auditor General of Pakistan revealed that sugar mills earned over Rs300 billion from recent sugar price fluctuations.


Express Tribune
23-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Finance committee of cabinet approves major grants
The Finance Committee of the Sindh Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday approved major grants, deferred some funding requests for lack of details and rejected a request from the Sports and Youth Affairs Department for a grant of Rs2 million from non-development funds to organise a football championship in Malir PS-89. The committee directed the Sports and Youth Affairs Department to hold the tournament utilising allocated budget and stated that any funding shortfall at the end of the year would be reviewed separately. The meeting, held with Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Home and Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar in the chair, was attended by the chief secretary, finance secretary, secretaries of all concerned departments and other senior officials. The committee approved a grant of Rs115 million from non-ADP funds for the ongoing construction of the Government Degree College at Ghorabari, Thatta District, and sanctioned Rs248 million for the installation of water storage tanks along with solar-powered pumping stations at Ex-Nara Canal, Khipro, Sanghar District. A one-time grant of Rs45 million was approved to cover transportation and installation costs of agricultural machinery gifted by China to the federal government, which included Sindh's share. The ministers expressed reservations over this additional expense, directing that in future such gifts should be received directly at Karachi Port to avoid unnecessary costs. The committee also approved a one-time payment of Rs141 million to settle dues of retired employees of the Sindh Seed Corporation in compliance with a court order, with the condition that no further grants would be sought for this purpose in future. A grant of Rs300 million from non-development funds was sanctioned for the repatriation of illegal Afghans residing in Pakistan. However, a request for grant funding for the Langar Khana (free meal facility) at the shrine of Sachal Sarmast was deferred until a detailed report, including information on donations received at the shrine, is submitted. Likewise, the request from Sindh Solid Waste Management Board for Rs15 billion was also deferred until submission of complete documentation and detailed justification. The ministers directed all departmental secretaries to ensure that future cases presented before the committee are backed by complete working papers and detailed data so that the committee can prepare its recommendations for the cabinet based on full facts.