Traders and importers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed serious concern over stuck up of a large number of containers, loaded with food items and others goods at Karachi port following the enforcement of relevant statutory regulatory order and urged the Ministry of Commerce to postpone implementation of the SRO-237 till 31 July.
Speaking a news conference at Peshawar Press Club, Arif Ejaz, a leader of traders and importers said the Ministry of Commerce had imposed SRO-237 (1) 2019 on February 19, mandating labelling of ingredients, nutritional facts usage instructions, and Halal status on imported goods in Urdu and English languages immediately.
Accompanied by Anjuman-e-Tajaran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa central president Haji Sharafat Ali Mubarak, importers and traders, Arif told the media that SRO-237 has further read that the shipment shall be accompanied by Halal Certificate, issued by Halal certification body, accredited with Accredited Body which is a member of International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) or standard metrology institute of Islamic countries (SMIC).
Sharafat Ali Mubarak informed that the clearance of more than 2400 containers and other goods consignments at Karachi port had halted after enforcement of SRO 237 by the Ministry of Commerce, Textile, Industries and Investment.
However, he welcomed the decision of Commerce Ministry regarding obtaining of Halal certificate by two foreign companies before clearance of goods consignments. He said importers had already paid several duties on shipments, which already reached at Karachi port and they [importers] could not afford further duties and charges, and would face further financial losses if their consignments were not cleared immediately.
So, he urged that the containers loaded with food items and other goods have either reached at Karachi ports or have been ordered before issuance of the SRO-237 must be cleared by postponement of the Ministry of commerce order till July 31.
He said the competent authorities have also issued letter, asking to immediate clear a large number of containers stuck at Karachi port. He informed that Rs4 million and Rs7million were charged per container. So, he said the government could generate hefty revenue from clearing of all containers.
Sharafat Ali complained that the attitude of Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood is not friendly with business community. The KP importers warned that they would hold march to federal capital Islamabad and stage a sit-in outside the Ministry of Commerce, if their demand was not accepted immediately.
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