LAHORE: Lahore Tax Bar Association (LTBA) President Munsha Sukhera has said that undue delays in clearance of importers’ consignments at sea ports and dry port was tantamount to discourage business activities in the country.
Talking to Customs Today here on Tuesday, he said that unwarranted delays in examination, assessment, clearance of imported goods for some vested interests has been posing heavy losses to the already fragile economy in the country.
“When the consignments’ clearance is delayed, orders are cancelled due to which the importers have to face financial losses that ultimately lead them to establish businesses in foreign countries, causing unemployment in the Pakistan and depriving the national exchequer of important revenue,” Sukhera explained.
He added that a few elements, responsible to handle consignment in the customs at the ports were putting the importers and exporters to face unease and leave the business forever which was thought provoking.
He said that business community of the country was major segment of the society that paid huge taxes and duties enabling the government to run the state machinery.
He added that the business community should be respected and encouraged to do their business comfortably by providing them business-friendly environment in the larger national interests.
He pointed out that a few elements were misusing their official powers for their own good and posing hardships to the importers in imported goods examination, assessment and clearance process.
Sukhrea urged the FBR chairman Tariq Bajwa and Member Customs Muhammad khan to take stock of the situation at the ports.
