KARACHI: The All Pakistan Furniture Exporters Association (APFEA) delegation while expressing deep concern over rising number of raids being conducted by the Customs authorities, said that the upsurge in Customs raids at the furniture markets of the city including the most recent one in Nursery furniture market, were terribly tarnishing the reputation and integrity of legitimate shopkeepers who have to be saved from unbridled harassment by customs authorities.

Instead of conducting raids by bringing along hundreds of individuals which triggers a lot of panic in the entire market, the Customs authorities should come up with any other appropriate strategy to deal with any issue with a view to avoid panic and save shopkeepers from going through an embarrassing situation, said APFEA members while requesting KCCI to intervene in this matter so that all such raids being conducted to harass shopkeepers could be controlled.

Exchanging views during their visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), APFEA delegation further mentioned that hundreds of laborers being engaged by customs authorities during raids were often involved in stealing other valuable items and cash etc from shops by taking advantage of the panic situation which causes more losses to perturbed shopkeepers.

Chairman APFEA Rana Waheed requested the KCCI to take up the pressing matter of raids with the Customs authorities at the earliest possible time so that relief could be provided to perturbed shopkeepers who despite facing so many challenges were somehow trying their best to keep businesses running in the ongoing era inflation wherein the business activities were almost stagnant.

He also appreciated all the efforts by the KCCI, particularly Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala which resulted in exit of furniture industry from Tier-I retailers’ category for sales tax collection.

He further said that despite numerous economic challenges, furniture exports have been rising every year since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

“Furniture industry has great potential to grow and boost furniture exports to USD 1 billion but it has to be provided an enabling business environment with reduced cost of doing business so that we are able to efficiently compete in the international markets.”

Earlier, President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, while welcoming APFEA delegation, assured full support and cooperation in dealing with numerous issues being faced by businessmen associated with furniture businesses, particularly the issue of raids being conducted by customs authorities.

“I’ll immediately approach Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (DIT) to seek time for a meeting so that this issue could be discussed and amicably resolved,” he added while requesting the APFEA to share details of at least two to three cases wherein unjustified raids were carried out and also give two nominations of the APFEA representatives who could also join the said meeting with DIT officials.

He advised the shopkeepers to always ensure availability of GDs in case they were dealing in imported goods and Sales Tax invoices in case of locally manufactured goods so that they could efficiently advocate their case if a raid is conducted.

“GDs and Sales Tax invoices should not only be available at business premises but also when the goods are being transited which would save businesses from getting into any kind of trouble,” he added.

Iftikhar Sheikh said: “KCCI’s doors remain open to facilitate and help out anyone who is facing hardships in dealing with numerous departments as it has always been the prime objective of KCCI to dedicatedly and honestly serve the members of business community without any discrimination.”

He also advised the APFEA members to densely participate in KCCI meetings and events by becoming members of numerous subcommittees which have been making rigorous efforts to get the taxation, law and order, utilities and a host of other issues promptly resolved.

Senior Vice President Altaf A Ghaffar, Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Barry, Former Vice President Younus Soomro, KCCI Managing Committee and APFEA delegates attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023