Protection of rights: Customs’ agents urge KCCI to approach govt

KARACHI: Members of a delegation from Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) led by KCAA President Arshad Khurshid requested Karachi Chamber to approach the government for safeguarding the interests and rights of traders, customs agents and all other stakeholders by devising the desperately needed legislations to regulate shipping lines and terminal operators who have been fearlessly and highhandedly demanding exorbitantly high charges due to lack of regulatory framework.

Exchanging views at a meeting during their visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), KCAA delegation noted that although assurances have been given from time to time by lawmakers but Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) Bill has been pending since 2013.

“As President KCCI Iftikhar Sheikh is well aware of all the complications being faced by business community, we hope that this issue will be given highest attention by President KCCI who must approach the government for announcement and implementation regulatory framework required to put an end to all the lootings being done by shipping lines and terminal operators,” they added.

President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, Senior Vice President Altaf A. Ghaffar, Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Barry, KCCI Managing Committee and KCAA delegation members also attended the meeting.

KCAA President Arshad Khurshid, on the occasion, stressed the need for maximizing interaction between the two institutions so that some of the most pressing issues being faced by customs agents and the importers could be promptly highlighted and amicably resolved.

“We are always available to KCCI Office Bearers and Managing Committee for any kind of assistance they require in understanding and dealing with numerous issues.”

President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, in his remarks, stated that it is going to be one of his top most priority to struggle really hard for the regulatory framework to control shipping lines, terminal operators and other stakeholders as implementation of regulatory framework and creation of an autonomous regulatory body would definitely help in creating an enabling business environment and save business community from suffering losses due to excessive charges by shipping lines and terminal operators.

“I will also be setting up a team comprising representatives of KCCI and KCAA so that we could work collectively for regulatory framework which has been pending since long.” In order to create a favorable business environment, Iftikhar Sheikh underscored the need to work jointly so that the expertise available in both institutions could be effectively utilized for compilation of necessary recommendations for federal budget and other amendments notified by the government from time to time.

He was of the view KCAA has attained a unique position with the passage of time and it has undoubtedly become a vibrant platform raising strong voice for getting the customs-related issues amicably resolved.

“KCAA’s success can be attributed to all the hard work done by Haji Asif who has done a commendable job but this success must be maintained at any cost by exhibiting complete unity.”

He advised KCAA to bring in fresh talent and youngsters in their association so that the business community’s issues could be efficiently tackled whereas the senior KCAA members must also be always available to prudently guide the youngsters.

He asked KCAA Members to become part of KCCI’s subcommittees as members which would certainly help in improving performance of these subcommittees and help in prompting taking up numerous customs related and other issues being faced by the business community.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023