LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) urged the federal government to help stop uncalled for raids at various business houses by law enforcers as the raids are not only earning bad name for the Government but also hurting businesses very hard.
In a statement the President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that the government should take steps to control smuggling at the borders. The law enforcers deployed there should be advised and educated to play their role in controlling smuggling.
Irfan Iqbal Sheikh said that Importers are facing various problems while transporting imported goods from the ports to their warehouses as they are frequently stopped by Custom personnel on various check points during transit. We believe that consignments once cleared by Customs Authorities should not be checked time and again while moving up country.
He said the practice of confiscating goods from warehouses when they reach in Lahore or other cities must be stopped. The President LCCI condemns the act of raiding warehouses and misusing the authority given to them. “We are always in favor of anti-smuggling measures and LCCI has always pleaded to stop it on borders”, he said, adding that why the officials appointed there do nothing to stop smuggled material while entering in the country. The traders have to maintain a certain capacity of stock in their warehouses to keep the supply and demand in order but the custom officials without taking into consideration the market norms and business methods impound the reserve materials. He said the steel bars importers facing this issue very frequently.
The practice being carried out by corrupt officers are hurting the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and they must be held accountable. Irfan Iqbal Sheikh was of the view that government must ensure that any action taken by the concerned staff should not be anti-business. These actions have far reaching consequences which need to be addressed immediately. He said that this is a long standing demand of LCCI that the practice of raiding the godowns and confiscating goods without giving time to importers to justify themselves must be stopped
