Relief in port charges sought

The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Customs of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Shabbir Mansha Churra, who is also the Founder Chairman of Pakistan Artificial Leather Imports and Merchants Association (PALIMA), has urged the government to provide relief in port charges in view of the emergency situation and lockdown.
He urged the government to defer port charges and late duty payment fines until the country overcame the emergency situation created by the coronavirus.
"The goods arriving at the ports have to pay duty within 10 days, but due to the lockdown, the importers are unable to pay the duty on time, and they have to pay a daily fine which may be as much as Rs 100,000," he said.
He requested the government to defer late duty fines and waive off charges on account of demurrage and detention charges at ports for at least one month.
Shabbir Mansha Churra also urged the government to announce a 90-day extension in the filing of sales tax and WHT, saying that due to the coronavirus, an emergency under Force Majeure clause had been declared worldwide.
According to the international law, after the implementation of this clause, all agreements and taxes are deferred to provide relief in difficult conditions.