Customs officials have allegedly been involved in large-scale tax evasion linked to the import of banned Direct-to-Home (DTH) satellite receiver cards, according to official documents and investigation findings.
The records indicate that the imports were facilitated through misdeclaration and manipulation of product descriptions, resulting in significant losses to the national exchequer.
According to available details, DTH satellite receiver cards were declared as audio-video cards to avoid detection. The actual functions of the equipment were deliberately concealed, even though the cards reportedly contained complete satellite dish receiving capabilities, placing them in the category of banned items under existing regulations. This information was not disclosed in official import documentation.
Investigations further reveal that the imported cards were severely undervalued to reduce applicable taxes. Documents show that cards with an actual market value of Rs. 1,800 were declared at only Rs. 23 per unit. This under-invoicing allegedly led to corruption amounting to millions of rupees in DTH card imports.
It has also emerged that the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) to customs authorities in violation of the law, which facilitated the clearance of these banned items. Records indicate that the consignments were cleared through multiple containers, raising questions about the number of containers released and the timing of their clearance.
Despite being banned, satellite receiver cards are reportedly being sold openly across Pakistan and are easily available in local markets. Sources claim that customs officials cleared the equipment by declaring it as raw materials imported in separate components, including power supply units, satellite cards, and casings. These parts were allegedly brought in through different containers to bypass regulatory restrictions.