LAHORE: Lahore Tax Bar Association President Munsha Sukhera has said that undue delays in clearance of importers’ consignments at sea ports, especially at the Port Qasim and dry ports, is tantamount to discouraging business activities in the country.
Talking to Customs Today here Tuesday, he said that unwarranted delays in examination, assessment, clearance of imported goods for vested interest are posing heavy losses to the already fragile economy of the country.
“When the goods and items’ clearance is delayed, the importers have to face economic losses leading to cancellation of already booked orders and ultimately lead them to leave business that cause unemployment, depriving the national exchequer from important revenue,” Sukhera explained.
“Such activities at ports are really thought provoking as importers are looking for other businesses due to the outlaw behaviour of some corrupt elements,” he said
He said that business community of the country is major segment of the society that pays huge taxes and duties enabling the government to run the state machinery, adding that the business community should be respected and encouraged to do their business comfortably by providing them ease of doing business in the larger national interests.
He pointed out that a few elements were using their official power for their own good and posing hardships to the importers in imported goods examination, assessment and clearance.
Sukhrea urged the FBR chairman Tariq Bajwa and Member Customs Nisar Muhammad khan to take stock of the situation before the problems get worse, especially at the sea ports.
