ISLAMABAD, April 13: Three Pakistani car makers allegedly evaded Rs517 million in taxes and customs duty in cases that are now at different stages of adjudication and litigation, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz told the Senate on Tuesday.
The finance minister in a written reply to a question from ANP senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, conceded that a case of Rs13.4 million sales tax evasion was detected against Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd, Lahore. The case, however, was adjudged against the party and now an appeal against the decision was pending in the Lahore High Court.
Similarly, customs duties of Rs503 million was allegedly evaded by the three motor companies. The details suggested that Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Ltd, Lahore, allegedly evaded customs duty of Rs200.7 million and other taxes to the tune of Rs30.9 million.
Likewise Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd, Karachi, evaded customs duty of Rs192.7 million and other taxes of Rs70.5 million. Raja Motors Company Ltd, Karachi, evaded customs duty of Rs7 million and other taxes Rs1.1 million.
Their cases are at different stages of adjudication and litigation. In reply to another question, the house was told that the central pool of the cabinet division comprised 51 cars of different makes and models. The maintenance and fuel bill of these vehicles during 2001-03 amounted to Rs11.3 million.
The central pool has one bullet-proof Mercedes Benz S 600 L model 2003, six 2003 model Mercedes Benz S 350 L, 22 1992-93 model Mercedes Benz 300 SEL, three 1984-86 model Mercedes Benz 230 E, two 1993 model Toyota Lexus 4,000cc, two 2003 model Toyota Corolla 1,600cc, three 1994-95 model Toyota Corona 1,600cc, two 2003 model Toyota Corolla 1,300cc, four 2002 model Toyota Corolla 1,300cc, three 1999 model Toyota Corolla 1,300cc, two 1992-93 model Mitsubishi buses and one 1994 model Rosa Coaster.
The house was also informed that the disabled persons still enjoyed the facility to purchase locally-manufactured cars with automatic transmission and the scheme was available at all the local manufacturers of cars up to 1,300cc.
Forty-five persons till date have been given authorization to purchase the locally-manufactured vehicles (41 1,300cc cars from Toyota Indus Motors and only four 1,000cc cars from Pak Suzuki Motors).
About the complaint of disabled persons that the local manufacturers were not honouring the authorization of the government, the house was told that matter was referred to the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) with the request to ensure the delivery of cars to the disabled persons.
In response, the PAMA stated that within the limits spelled out, Indus Motor Company and Honda Atlas Motors had promised to do their best to provide cars to the disabled, while Suzuki Motors Company, Dewan Farooq Motors and Ghandhara Nissan had not yet started manufacturing cars with automatic transmission.
Pak Suzuki stated that since they have manual transmission system against the requirement of automatic and have no arrangement for providing special gadgets in such cars, therefore they were unable to quote any vehicle for disabled.
