LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) would take up the matters of high rate of customs duty on auto parts and undue checking of the consignments by the authorities concerned.
This was stated by the Vice President of the Lahore Chamber Nasir Saeed while addressing a 50-member delegation of Pakistan Auto Spare parts Importers and Dealers Association (PASPIDA) here at the LCCI on Saturday. Chairman PASPIDA Abid Hameed, Central Vice Chairman Baber Mustafa, Muhammad Ibrar and Asad Noor Paganwala also spoke on the occasion.
Nasir Saeed said that all those barriers should be removed which are hampering the smooth running of businesses. He said that all concerned departments should adopt friendly approach towards the business community which is backbone of the economy. He said that undue checking of the goods should be stopped at it is not only hurting business but also creating an atmosphere of harassment.
He said that top government officials including DCO and CCPO would be invited to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry to highlight the issues being faced by the business community.
He said that the business community is the power force to make country economic leader at global leader therefore policies should be evolved while keeping in view their stakes. He said that all departments should act as facilitator to the business community.
He said that measures being taken on the name of controlling smuggling, are actually affecting those traders who are doing their businesses legally. He said that reportedly intelligence officials establish their own check posts out of the markets, stops all consignments and harass the traders without any reason. He said that there is a dire need to encourage the honest businessmen through stopping raids on business premises. He also stressed the need for a strategy to remove the menace of smuggling. He said that smuggled goods should be stopped at borders instead of conducting raids in the markets.
He assured the delegation that Lahore Chamber will arrange their meeting with the concerned department for early solution of their custom duty and valuation related problems. He said that the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry will continue to highlight the challenges being faced by the trade and industry.
The delegation members informed the LCCI Vice President that 35% customs duty is imposed on auto parts which is very high. They said that duty should be brought down. They said that instead of stopping the consignments and demanding undue documents, smuggling should be stopped at borders as existing method is nothing else but to tease the businessmen. They also called to make the taxation system simple and business friendly.
