MULTAN: Business community of South Punjab should utilize the swift facility clearance of Multan Dry port and their problems would be resolved on top-priority basis. Multan Dry Port is one of the vital dry ports in the South Punjab and Multan Dry Port is one of the emerging business hubs in the country and it would provide vast business opportunities to industrialists and traders in the region. It was stated by Collector Customs Appraisement Faisalabad while talking to business community of South Punjab regarding their clearance issues at Multan Dry Port for export and import in special meeting organized by Chairman Multan Dry Port Khawaja Muhammad Younas.
Collector Saima Aftab expressed that Multan Customs Dry Port is the only port available in the region for business community which facilitates exporters of the South Punjab for their export batches. Multan Dry Port is facilitating the exporters round the clock for clearance of their export shipments. Multan Customs is providing full assistance to exporters for the promotion of trade in the region and Multan Customs has also established the special export terminal at Sadiqabad for facilitation of exporters. Business community of South Punjab must avail the clearance facilities of Customs Appraisement for the promotion business activities in the region.
Chairman Khawaja Muhammad Younas informed Collector Saima Aftab that Appraisement department of Customs will have to introduce People-friendly and Business-friendly policies by bringing smart changes in their behavior and adopting softness, relaxation, politeness for promotion of trade.
Global Pandemic COVID-19 is devastating business communities, jobs, challenge businesses that struggle to survive, and strain fiscal space of governments working to protect both lives and livelihoods, he added. Khawaja Younas said that Pakistan is not immune to the economic shock caused by the coronavirus, and its exports have been hit hard. He further said the success of the recently announced industrial strategy ‘Make in Pakistan’ relies mainly on the ability of Pakistani producers to access raw materials and intermediate inputs at world prices. Achieving revenue targets set by the Central Board of Revenue for the Multan dry port was linked with the resolution of problems being faced by exporters, importers and clearing agents. Khawaja Younas said that Traders of South Punjab wanted to make Export Terminal Sadiqabad, Muzaffargarh and Multan more active than ever before. But they are facing a problem of “Delayed Clearance” of containers of imported good or export goods due to non-cooperation of ANF staff.
He said that South Punjab will become business hub of CPEC in near future and it would be a center of trade activities. He suggested that the Customs department should facilitate the businessmen of this zone and they must provide a congenial atmosphere to them.
He said that it was a long-standing desire of businesses of the south zone to serve the country and the people of this area and they want to boost up their exports to earn maximum foreign exchange. For sustainable development of Pakistan, we need robust and cost-effective Transport & Logistics Sector, he said that the customs department should use its influence to provide a cargo train for the importers, exporters of South Punjab. Internationally 50% of cargo is carried /traded through rail development. In Pakistan, Rail share is just 5% due to lack of quality containers & non-container freight trains. Pakistan Railways has promised to give a train to Multan for Karachi port but it is yet to be materialized. Moreover, cold storage containers are very much required to reduce/minimize the wastage of farm produce & other perishables items that Pakistan is currently unable to produce.
The meeting was also attended by Assistant Collector customs, Multan Dry Port Beenish Rashid, Assistant Collector Export Terminal, Sadiqabad Sobia, Khawaja Muhammad Younas, Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf, Khawaja Muhammad Hussain, Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah, Khawaja Muhammad Ahsan Shah, Chairman of APBUMA. Later she visited the Multan Dry Port Trust’s Sadiqabad Terminal and asked the staff to provide maximum facilities to attract the local exporters and importers. She assured for the posting of efficient, experienced and energetic staff in Multan dry port.
