FAISALABAD: The chief collector Faisalabad is unable to resolve a dispute between importers and the customs officials regarding clearance of 160 containers at the Faisalabad Dry Port. The tussle could cause a loss of Rs 220.50 million to the national exchequer.
Sources revealed that more than 100 containers were imported via Karachi and after clearance from Faisalabad Dry Port, the custom officials besieged the containers and pressurized the importers to pay heavy amount in terms of customs duty but the importers claim they had already paid such duties prior to their clearance at the dry port.
The sources on condition of anonymity says that Chief Collector Federal Board of Revenue Rozi Khan, in a bid to resolve the issue between customs officials and the importers, had paid a surprise visit to Dry Port but he could not succeed in resolving the matter.
Owing to longstanding issue, an amount of Rs. 60 million of transporters’ fare has been blocked as the containers are forced not to go outside of Dry Port. On the other hand an investment of Rs. 480 million rupees has no fate due to the ongoing tussle between the importers and the customs officials. The importers and clearing agents seems to be stuck in a state of disarray and a real quandary. Both the parties at receiving end, lost themselves in the blind alleys of unremitted ignorance and mismanagement.
