KARACHI: Importers are facing problems at the hands of Pakistan Standard Quality Control (PSQC) officials in clearance of their consignments at Customs Collectorate of Port Qasim, sources said.
An importer, on the condition of anonymity, told Customs Today that the PSQC officials ‘misuse’ their authority as they withhold the consignments without any solid reason, adding that the department is only bound to withhold specific items and issue release certificate against a pay order of Rs 31,000. Sources alleged the PSQC officials impose their own policies for ‘minting money’.
He said importers of non-applicable items are forced to get clearance letter, which is issued after paying Rs 15,000 as bribe. After taking the said amount, importers go to PSQC head office near Mosamyat, Karachi, to collect the clearance certificate, he said and adding that such non-professional behaviour creates disturbance among importers.
It is necessary to mention here that the PSQC issued a list two years ago in which applied items were specified. The items included toothpaste, toilet soap, shampoo, detergent powder, powder hair dyes, oxidation hair dye liquid, structural steel, tin plate, urea (periled and granular), di-ammonium phosphate, single super phosphate, triple super phosphate and others.
The administration’s silence on the issue pertaining to withholding of consignments, which are not in the list of PSQC, is creating distress among importers, he concluded.
