KARACHI: Over 100 consignments of textile fabric have been stuck at different ports and terminals including Karachi International Containers Terminal (KICT), Pakistan International Containers Terminal (PICT) and Port Qasim International Containers Terminal (QICT) for the last 20 days.
Importers have expressed their deep concerns over the ongoing situation and were of the view that they may have to face losses worth millions of rupees due to delay in clearance of the consignments.
Sharing their views with Customs Today, they said that Pakistan Customs authorities have sent all the consignments of textile fabric for examination and laboratory test in order to determine the composition of the blended fabric.
“The laboratory staff is already facing shortage of man-power while the examination staffers are asking for speed-money against the clearance of the consignments,” they alleged.
The importers were of the view that they do not have any reservations over holding the consignments, but delay in clearance of the consignments produces financial loss to them as well as creating hindrance in their business activities.
“We have to forward our consignments to the parties in open market before holy month of Ramadan. Failure in terms of not fulfilling the demand in the open market will make us suffer millions of rupees as loss,” the importers added.
It is pertinent to mention here that FBR may face billions of rupees revenue shortage in case of non-depositing of customs duty worth Rs 200 million in case of non-clearance of textile fabric consignments.
When attempt to make contact with Collector MCC Appraisement-West Muhammad Saleem was made for his view point, he was unavailable.
Furthermore, Collector Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Dr Owais Jawwad Agha informed Customs Today that there was no pendency of the consignments of textile fabric or any other consignment at QICT. However, if any importers were facing problem in case of clearance of the consignments they could contact immediately the Collector’s Office.
