CBR withdraws 10 old cases against Askari Cement

Accepting the recommendations of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) committee, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has withdrawn 10 old cases pertaining to sales tax and excise duty framed against a leading cement manufacturer.

According to an ADR order 39 of 2006, the board has exercised powers under Section 47A of the Sales Tax Act, 1990 for the settlement of cases against Askari Cement Limited Rawalpindi. The cases were framed against the unit when it was under the control of government many years ago.

The committee comprised an advocate of Islamabad, a chartered accountant of Rawalpindi and collector of sales tax and federal excise of Peshawar. The committee was of the view that the tax liability has arisen at a time when manufacturing unit was part of the State Cement Corporation under the Ministry of Industries.

Without going into the merits of the case, the committee stated that being under the control and management of the government, it could be safely presumed that there could not have been an intention to deliberately evade duties and taxes, it stated.