MULTAN: Multan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has demanded Minister of Shipping and Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi to resolve the matter of overstayed consignments at warehouses which was causing surcharges on clearance to South Punjab importers.
MCCI President Khawaja Salahuddin said that due to COVID-19 commercial activities are down causing overstay of consignments and subsequently facing surcharge on clearance. During the meeting of the FPCCI Advisory Council on Budget various issues were discussed including period of limitation of warehousing.
He said that the economic slowdown, recession in the market and financial constraints due to COVID-19, importers are unable to clear their consignments in time which has led to a situation where large quantities of warehoused goods have piled up incurring heavy surcharge as no general concession has so far been extended by the Federal Government in this matter. The situation is also impacting substantial amount of revenue.
MCCI President raised the issue of importers of raw material who are facing problems due to their consignments lying in customs bonded warehouses beyond the period stipulated under section 98 of the Customs Act, 1969. The meeting resolved to approach FBR to consider grant of waiver of surcharge on overstayed consignments in order to alleviate the problems of the importers. He said that the government under the present difficult circumstances may favorably consider the enhancement of customs bonded warehousing period limitation up 60 days so as to mitigate hardship of importers.
