ISLAMABAD: The Punjab government has expressed serious concern over delay in the clearance of perishable items, especially vegetables from India at Wagah Border by the customs authorities.
According to details, the Punjab Agriculture Department has written a letter to FBR Chairman Tariq Bajwa, citing inordinate delay in the clearance of perishable item which has been causing loss to the national exchequer and importers as well.
The FBR has already issued instructions to the customs authorities in Lahore to ensure speedy clearance of imported consignments, i.e perishable items from India to avoid losses to importers. But the customs authorities failed to take necessary measures to ensure timely clearance of perishable items from India.
It is to be noted that the issue came to surface in a meeting of the Punjab Cabinet Committee when representatives of the importers of vegetables complained regarding delay in the clearance of perishable items, especially vegetables at Wagah Border.
Taking up the issue, the Punjab Agriculture Department has written to the FBR chairman, seeking directions to be issued to the Custom Clearance officers concerned at Wagah Border to ensure clearance of perishable items before 2:00pm on daily basis. The department was of the view that in the past, the customs authorities used to clear perishable items on priority basis.
