KARACHI: The cargo containers have filled the country’s main port due to continuous strike of freight forwarders and air cargo agents, which is also costing billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer.
Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and Air Cargo Agents Association of Pakistan (ACAAP) had announced strike for indefinite period until government resolves all the issues, which include withdrawal of the turnover tax.
ACAAP Chairman Farukh Iqbal, while talking to media, said that there was no bill of leading for exporters to ship goods through dry ports, sea ports, airports, bonded container freight station. He said that no official or government representative has come to negotiate with them.
“We have written several letters to the Federal Board of Revenue, finance ministry and Prime Minister’s secretariat, but the government was not ready to listen to our grievances.”
Even various trade bodies took up this issue with the government, which seems to be indifferent to trade and commerce, he added. The cargo agents’ leader said since no government official had contacted them on Wednesday they decided to continue the strike.
“Our members are not responsible or liable for any direct or consequential losses suffered by trade due to strike as government has forced our member companies to take the extreme decision to close businesses in protest against the imposition of this unjust tax, which itself means closure of businesses,” he said.
