FAISALABAD: Collector Customs Collectorate Mohammad Sadiq constituted a committee to facilitate importers. The committee will comprise Additional Collector Ghulam Mustafa, Deputy Collector Falak Shair and President FCCI Rao Sikandar Azam, Sheikh Ashfaq , Muhammad Asghar member executive committee Rashid Muneer, Yaqoob Awan and a clearing agent. The formation of the committee will be notified within a week.
Addressing a meeting of importers and exporters, Collector Sadiq said that the basic objective of the committee is to resolve the issues faced by importers of old machinery and auto parts or to facilitate the FCCI members. He appreciated Faisalabad Dry Port Trust (FDPT) Chairman Sheikh Mukhtar Ahmad for abolishing the demurrage period for the time being. He disclosed that 1 percent tax levied by the Punjab government is not in the ambit of Faisalabad custom collectorate. Hence, the matter may be taken up with the Punjab government. He assured that once the examination of containers is carried out there is no need of re-examination by the authority.
He has cleared the previous 6 months cases on assumption of charge as collector custom. He further disagreed with the impression that Karachi dry port is generating majority of tax revenue. In this regard 70% of tax is generated by Punjab dry ports. He further announced that in case of ambiguity or complaint the importers may directly contact with additional or deputy collector. He further announced that awareness session on Rebate issues shall be conducted on FCCI platform. While replying to a question regarding the Customs Intelligence he said that he will personally take up matters with concerned quarters of custom intelligence.
Earlier in his address of welcome Engineer Muhammad Saeed Sheikh congratulated Mr. Sadiq on the assumption of charge as Collector Customs. he said that the businesses is already on the verge of collapse due to the multiplicity of taxes and high cost of doing business he highlighted the problems confronted by the business community pertaining to the customs. He further added that due to the 1% tax levied by the Punjab Government the importer are preferring to import their products from Karachi and other Dry ports of Pakistan, where the tax levies and clearing cost is less than the Faisalabad Dry Port.
Moreover, he referred the cases of used machinery and auto parts importers whereby the Customs Intelligence is time and again hampering the imports by un due checking and below standard attitude. While suggesting he referred and recommended National Textile University state of the Art testing laboratory likewise PTEA Laboratory wherein the customs authority may carry out the testing procedure in minimum time. While commenting on unjustified levy of 1% duty by Punjab Government, the Chairman FDPT Sh. Mukhtar Ahmad announced that within two weeks a protest rally shall be carried out in front of Chief Minister’s Punjab Secretariat Lahore till the abolishment of said levy.
During question answer session Syed Zia Alamdaar Hussain ex SVP FCCI pointed out that due to procedural constrains and laboratory testing procedure his consignment had been delayed.
Later Muhammad Asghar, Yaqoob Awan, Haji Muhammad Abid also raised questions pertaining to their sectors. The meeting adjourned with vote of thanks by FCCI Senior Vice President Rana Sikandar Azam Khan and FCCI Shields presented to Collector Customs by President FCCI Engr. Muhammad Saeed Sheikh.
