LAHORE: Businessmen and importers on Thursday expressed concern over the throughput charges at the Lahore airport as compared to the Islamabad and Karachi airports and demanded. They also demanded that PRAL system be implemented again and cargo charges must be made equal at all the airports. They also complained against the inappropriate attitudes with the importers and other stakeholders at the airport.
The importers made various complaints against the Civil Aviation Authority and its contractor S Jamil & Company during an interaction session with the Civil Aviation Authority Commercial & Estates Director Alqera Atiq at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
On the occasion, LCCI Vice President Nasir Saeed said that Civil Aviation Authority should take notice of the inappropriate attitude of the contractors and reduce the charges to a competitive level with the Islamabad and Karachi airports.
He said that a large chunk of the Lahore business has been shifted to Islamabad and Karachi increasing per unit cost.
The LCCI vice president said that importers and exporters have been complaining against the unfair and insolent attitude of the CAA contractors. He said that eventually, with the shifting of importers to other airports will make things difficult for CCA and importers and exporters.
The LCCI vice president urged the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure equal imposition of cargo throughput charges which is a federal tax and its receipt should also be computerized. He said that cargo throughput harges should be charged 2 percent instead of 5 percent if shipment in case of same day clearance of shipment.
After the closure of the session Alqera Atiq told Customs Today that the importers and exporters genuine issues would be taken up immediately in the larger national interests.
He said that computerized billing, reduction in charge and implementation of PRAL system at the Lahore airport will be discussed and implemented after approval.
While talking about the inappropriate attitude of the contractor of CAA Lahore airport he said that highest bidders are accommodate and allowed to work due to which the authority hesitate to take action against the contractor. Now that the LCCI and importers and exporters have brought to the notice of the CAA, it will do all out efforts to resolve their concerns, he concluded.
Importer and exporters Khawaja Khawar Rasheed, Muhammad Anwar, Safique, Irfan and others were also present on the occasion.
