GILGIT-BALTISTAN: The importers of Gilgit-Baltistan have been on strike for the last one month and are not filing GDs to get cleared their consignments due to imposition of new policies regarding the WeBOC.
According to details given by Muhammand Ali Qaid, President, Niggar Chamber of Commerce GB, while exclusively talking with Customs Today that domestic exporters and importers of Gilgit-Baltistan have loudly protested against the introduction of Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) for goods clearance at Sost Dry Port. The domestic traders and exporters complained about the introduction of WeBOC as they claimed that GB didn’t have reliable internet services and weren’t ready to learn this new system.
Muhammand Ali Quaid said that, as a result, trade and business activities were suspended with China via Khunjerab Pass after a decision taken. He claimed that Pakistan Customs was enacting new rules for Sost Dry Port which is a conspiracy to fail the trade activity between Pakistan and China through Karakoram Highway as it will render thousands of local people jobless.
He added that the WeBOC system was being launched in an area where there was no availability of internet services and asked how the traders would be able to follow the rules. Recently appointed Chief Collector North is stressing to continue imports under the WeBOC while local importers are not educated to run the WeBOC system whereas available 2G internet facility cannot support the WeBOC, he added. The importers of the GB requested the FBR to continue the same system to clear the consignments under the same One Customs system.
He further said that shipments from China has been stuck for the last one month due to the requirement of computer-based clearance system at Sost Dry Port, which would add to the losses of traders.
He questioned if government can declare Gowader Port free tax zone then why GB cannot be declared like that. He added that the business community will not remain silent against the dual policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). He maintained that GB is going to become the central point of the CPEC, so it should be given the status of free zone.
Meanwhile. Ali Asad, Assistant Collector, MCC Gilgit-Baltistan, said the collectorate has given many options to the importers for ending one monthlong strike against the new developments at the GB, but they are unwilling to do so. They have a one-point agenda that they do not want theWeBOC at the Sost.
According to details given by Ali Asad, newly appointed Assistant Collector at the Model Customs Collectorate GB, that “we have done many things for the importers but their agenda is against the policy decision of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He said “the arrangements for WeBOC are completed and there is an online NBP along with the internet and all upgrade at the Sost Dry Port”.
The Sost Dry Port has been operational since 1st of April after a winter seasonal shutdown while importers are not filing Goods Decelerations (GD) against their consignments were reached the Sost Dry Port a month ago. The Chinese companies are also not clearing their consignments due to threatening slogans raised by importers of the GB. “we will block the Krackrom Highway if our demands are not be fullfilled”, many slogans like the one mentioned.
Assistant Collector told CT that “we are waiting for importers to file GDs which they are not doing because of strike, he said while answering to a query. He said if demurrage could be applied on consignments which are stuck at the Sost Dry Port and it would be collected by the National Logistic Cell (NLC) who is terminal’s custodian, but I don’t think NLC will charge the demurrage in starting days as port is also undergoing upgrade, Asad said.
