Karachi: Pakistan Customs’ sudden change in the green channel parameters has halted the clearance of thousands of import containers of various goods, including commodities, causing huge financial losses to importers.
While shipping companies and terminal operators are earning crores of rupees in additional revenue in the form of demurrage and detention charges, the delay in clearance has raised fears of impacting the supply of medicines, pulses, medical devices, steel and other essential goods in the local market.
In this regard, Khurram Ijaz, Chairman of the Customs Advisory Council of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Pakistan, told Express that the customs authorities have made changes in the green channel without prior notice, as a result of which the clearance of import containers has been delayed, and the containers have piled up at the port and importers are facing anxiety.
Importers are now facing unnecessary delays of 4 days in grounding of containers and another 2 to 3 days in examination and assessment. Khurram Ijaz said that if there was to be any change in the parameters of the green channel, at least it should have been informed in advance and the number of officers should have been increased with additional capacity to avoid delay in clearance of consignments.
He appealed to the Chairman FBR and the Chief Collector Customs to strike a balance between enforcement and facilitation of measures so as to ensure prompt clearance of legitimate trade. It is important to recognize that more than 90 percent of importers follow the rules, so they should not be punished.
He urged the Chairman FBR and the Chief Collector Customs to take note of the complaints of importers and resolve their problems so that a balance between enforcement and facilitation is restored.
