KARACHI: Importers are facing hardships in clearance of consignments at Port Qasim, as officials of Pakistan Standard Quality Control (PSQC) are trying to impose their own policies for minting money by holding consignments of items on which PSQC law is not applicable.
An importer, seeking anonymity told Customs Today that officials of PSQC were crossing their limits by holding consignment of non-applicable items, adding that the department was only bound to hold the specific items for which a clearance certificate is issued against a pay order of Rs 31,000.
He added that importers of non-applicable items were forced to get clearance letter, which is issued by taking kickback amounting to Rs 15,000. After taking the said amount, the importer is sent to PSQC head office located at Safoora Goth, Karachi to collect the clearance certificate, he informed, adding that such unprofessional behaviour is causing anger among importers.
It is important to mention here that the PSQC issued a list on May 5, 2015 in which applied items were specified. The items include tooth paste, toiled soap, shampoo, detergent powder, powder hair dyes, oxidation hair dye liquid, structural steel, tin plate, urea (prilled and granular), di-ammonium phosphate, single super phosphate, triple super phosphate and others.
The administration’s silence on the issue pertaining to holding consignment of items, which were not in the list of PSQC, is creating distress among importers, he said.
Sources told Customs Today that on Saturday fight was erupted between importers and officials of PSQC at reception of Port Qasim. The importers had requested the authorities concerned to bound the department for holding only prescribed items.
