Equal treatment for Karachi businessmen demanded: KCCI suggests government to set up anti-smuggling Directorate

Incoming President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra has suggested to the government to establish anti-smuggling directorate (ASD). Speaking at 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the chamber, he said smuggling was a very big issue and no move has been made in the past to have an ASD.
He said the proposed directorate should have its post near the borders to keep vigilance on borders and make efforts to nab smugglers. He also proposed established of another sea ports at KT Bunder. Iftikhar Ahmed Vohra said that exports were increasing and now "we feel that requirement of another port to cater to the increasing export and imports requirements".
He said the KCCI was always instrumental in helping the business and industrial community of Karachi in their day to day tax and taxation related problems in more forceful and efficient way. Referring about discrimination between commercial and industrial imports, he said he will make all possible efforts so that this ambiguity should be resolved.
About 15 percent balloting for audit, he said that issues would be agitated at all levels. He assured that during his tenure he would like KCCI to especially focus on export enhancement and to play its role more vibrantly to increase exports. He assured small traders that the KCCI will take up their issue with the government and make efforts to convince concerned authorities to resolve them.
He was of the view that trade relation between Pakistan and India should be normalised and two-way trade should be increased. Vohra announced to make efforts to get a plot for new chamber building. Outgoing KCCI President KCCI Amir Abdullah Zaki said the business community facing a number of challenges, including high mark-up rates, law and order problem, travel advisory, taxation policies, market access, high power and gas tariff etc. He said these issues could only be resolved with persistence efforts of business community leaders and their power to convince those sitting on the helm of affairs.
Chairman of Businessmen Group (BMG) and former KCCI President Siraj Kasim Teli expressed his disappointment over the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) discriminatory attitude with Karachi-based businessmen. He warned that the business community may stage sit-in if the FBR fail to equally treat businessmen of Karachi and other parts of the country.