Congestion of consignments at ports: FPCCI urges private sector to avoid unnecessary imports

Following the government line of action, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has called upon the private sector to avoid unnecessary imports and subsequent unmanageable inventory since it can equally harm both the national exchequer and the industry.
Sticking up of huge consignments is depriving the government of taxes, as long as they are cleared. The FPCCI committee on imports and taxation has urged the business community to tighten belt and rise up to the occasion by streamlining their businesses and industrial operations.
The committee, headed by Aftab Vohra, has informed the tax authorities in a meeting that FPCCI would cooperate with the government to apply austerity drive on itself and it has already urged the business community to have a prudent strategy for imports in the given scenario, when the global market is depressed and declining trend could result in unnecessary imports and unnecessary inventories.
The meeting was attended by Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) co-chairman Iftikhar Ali Malik, vice chairman Tariq Shafi, Atta Bajwa and other members. Regarding Pakistan's economic situation and its impact on businesses and industrial activities, Iftikhar Ali Malik said, "The country needs business community's support for avoiding unnecessary and wasteful operations and FPCCI calls upon the businessmen and industrialists to follow an approach of 'play smart' to compete in the fast changing global markets."
The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) leadership had held a series of meetings with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Finance minister, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, to find some solution to avoid congestion at the ports adding pressure on the customs clearance authorities. Asif Vohra told the meeting that the FPCCI committee was going to visit the ports and compile a report on congestion at ports, which would be submitted to the FPCCI.
Pakistan is facing serious problems in clearance of imported consignments, sometimes due to litigation over dispute on import duty. Hundreds of thousands imported consignments are currently held up at Karachi port fixing up of huge amount and creating fuss at the port. Same is the situation at different ports including dry ports, where consignments of billions of rupees are rusting.
The customs authorities are in a difficult situation and are unable to find any solution to this long-standing issue. Keeping the prevailing situation in view, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has formed a committee on imports and taxation with a mandate to find out a solution to the issue.