SCCI expresses anguish over actions and harassment of customs authorities

PESHAWAR
Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed deep concern over harassment on various pretext of traders, unwarranted actions and checking goods consignments despite having goods declarations (GDs) by customs authorities and urged to immediate halt the practice to flourish business, trade and export.
The issue was raised by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Fazal Moqeem Khan during a meeting with Chief Collector Customs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Jamil Nasir here the chamber house on Tuesday.
SCCI Senior Vice president Abdul Jalil Jan, Vice president Shehryar Khan, Chairman SCCI Standing Committee on Law and Order and Chairman, Anjuman e Tajran Peshawar Shaukat Ali Khan, former presidents Haji Muhammad Asif, Fuad Ishaq, former vice president Malik Niaz Awan, senior member of executive committee and FCAA-KP president and PAJCCI senior vice president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, members of the chamber’s executive committee Adnan Nasir, Saifullah Khan, Ashfaq Ahmad, Sultan Muhammad, Aftab Iqbal and Ihsanullah, Atif Rashid Khawaja, Mazharul Haq, Mushtaq Ahmad, Imtiaz Ali Ahmad, Ishtiaq Muhammad Paracha, Saddar Gul, Sikandar Iqbal, Abdul Majid, Farooq Ahmad, Rashid Iqbal Siddiqui, Khalid Gul Pakhtunyar, SCCI Secretary General Muqtasid Ahsan, traders, manufacturers as well as importers and exporters were present during the meeting.
Businessmen on the occasion apprised the newly appointed chief collector of Customs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa about hurdles to the cross-border trade, especially frequent closure of Torkham border, bureaucratic hurdles in carrying out smooth trade and others associated with the cross border trade and presented practical solution to all these issues and proposals for improving the situation.
Traders urged the government, customs department and other relevant authorities to facilitate traders under the one-window operation, because mutual trade, export and national economy would only flourish by easing difficulties of the business community.
Business community demanded direct link KP Customs Deptt matter to Peshawar Airport instead of Islamabad Airport, besides expediting process of goods consignments and increase in scanners at airports and Torkham border.
Fazal Moqeem highlighted issues related to policy and enforcement, stating that the customs authorities’ actions cause hurdles in carrying out smooth business, trade and export, elevating hardships of the traders significantly.
SCCI chief called for taking corrective steps and directives to eliminate the unauthorized practice, harassment and promote business-friendly environment and policies to boost up business and trade.
We discourage illegal business and trade, and fully abide with rules and regulations and policies.
Fazal Moqeem made it clear that harassment and unnecessary actions that were the cause of difficulties for legal traders’ inoperable and unacceptable.
On the occasion, the SCCI president expressed serious concern over financial anomalies in the Faceless Customs Assessment System, incurred revenue loss of Rs100billion to public exchequer, asked government and authorities to make reforms to decentralise the FCA system for bringing transparency and fairness. Ziaul Haq Sahardi spoke on the occasion, highlighted the issues at Azakhel Dryport, cross border trade and presented proposals for making fully operationalize the Azakhel, Peshawar dryport, and problems of the business community.
Sarhadi stressed re-launch of a special cargo train from Peshawar to Karachi to boost exports from KP.
He also called for abolishment of SRO 121, allowing loose cargo
Later, Chief Collector Customs KP Jamil Nasir responded to various queries of the participants and assured of early resolution of issues hindering smooth sailing of the cross border trade and export.
Senior official said the customs department knew the problems facing the business community and would strive to resolve them on a priority basis.
Chief Collector Customs Jamil Nasir directed officials concerned for expending appraisement of consignments.