Importers are now facing a week's delay in the clearance of consignments at Air Freight Unit (AFU), Karachi as the customs department has started examining 100 percent consignments following the seizure of Rs 48 million worth cellphones by the Directorate Intelligence and Investigation (DI&I) Customs-FBR, Karachi last week.
According to sources, the enforcement staff of DI&I Karachi recovered 1,200 cellphones worth Rs 48 million, which were cleared under the guise of auto parts in connivance with customs staff at AFU, Karachi. Consequently, the customs staff is now examining 100 percent consignments at AFU, Karachi that led a week's delay in clearance, creating difficulties for the importers who paid heavy fares and brought consignments at AFU, Karachi, due to its urgent nature.
Replying to a question, they said that spare parts of industrial machinery, pharmaceutical raw material, perishable items, life saving drugs, etc were major imports at AFU, Karachi; adding that the possibilities of drugs shortage in coming days could not be ruled out if no improvement was made in consignment clearance.
Meanwhile, All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) has also taken up the issue and expressed grave concerns over a week delay in consignment clearance. In a letter sent to the Chief Collector, Enforcement South, the association stated that importers paid heavy cost of freight to release consignments of urgent nature and customs had responsibility to release these consignments on immediate basis without compromising its revenue. However, the trade is now facing huge financial losses due to unnecessary delays by customs staff and unsatisfactory arrangements at AFU terminals.
When contacted, Senior Vice Chairman APCAA, Arshad Jamal confirmed that customs department was examining 100 percent consignments at AFU, Karachi with inadequate arrangements, causing a week delay in consignment clearance that led putting excessive financial burden on importers on account of demurrages.
He said that examination hall at AFU was not up to the international standards as there was no proper illumination and they made makeshift arrangement for power supply, which may cause any untoward incident in future. He said that AFU, which supposed to provide 24/7 service due to urgent nature of consignments, had earlier extended two hours in the delivery timing of the consignments but now the same facility was withdrawn after the said incident. Arshad also requested the authority concerned to look into the matter and take immediate measures to make proper arrangements besides meeting the staff shortage in order to facilitate the trade at maximum.