PESHAWAR, Feb 26 (APP):Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged Customs authorities to expedite clearance process of commercial import-containers at Azakhel Dryport to prevent the trading community from monetary loss.
SCCI President Junaid Altaf who headed by a delegation of businessmen made this demand during a meeting with Deputy Collector (Appraisement), Customs Azakhel Dryport Ms. Kashmala Tahseen at the Dryport on Thursday.
Members of the delegation include SCCI senior vice president Muhammad Nadeem, Chairman Sarhad Chamber Standing Committee on Dryport, former senior vice president, president and executive member of the SCCI Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, and Customs Clearing Agents and Importers including Mansoor Ahmad, Waheed Bacha, Javed Khan, Tariq Afridi, Amir Raza, Nizam Shah, Jalal Khan, Tanveer Khan, Sher Muhamad, Qamar Abbas and Manan Khan.
The participants of the meeting were informed that more than 100 commercial import-cargo containers were struck at Azakhel Dryport due to snail pace of the clearance process.
The meeting urged the custom authorities to ensure an open door policy to address the business community amicably.
The meeting demanded of the customs authorities to clear more than 20 commercial import-cargo trucks on a daily basis.
President Junaid Altaf apprised the senior customs official regarding concerns of the business community over delay in clearance of commercial import-cargo trucks at Azakhel Dryport and demanded proactive steps to speed up the process of clearance to prevent the traders from heavy financial loss on head of detention and halting and transportation charges.
SCCI chief said KP is far away from seaport and cost of doing business is double as compared to other parts of the country,Similarly, he said the prolonged closure of trade routes had brought negative impacts on bilateral trade and slowed down economic and commercial activities, triggering massive unemployment.
President Junaid Altaf urged government and authorities concerned to extend maximum facilities and compete with the business community while keeping in view the prevailing circumstances.
He stressed for concrete steps to address the issues, which were being faced by the business community at Azakhel dryport.
Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, who is chairman of the SCCI standing Committee on Dryport also addressed the occasion and highlighted several issues of business community and custom clearing agents and gave a comprehensive solution of all those problems.
Mr. Sarhadi highlighted investment opportunities in various potential sectors and demanded the launch of a special cargo train from Peshawar to Karachi.
Deputy Collector Kashmala Tahseen while speaking on the occasion agreed with proposals of the SCCI president Junaid Altaf and assured that clearance of 10 commercial import-cargo containers on daily basis.
She promised that steps would be taken on a fast-track basis to provide maximum facilities to the business community at Azakhel Dryport and full implementation of the open door policy.
P:adl/X:ftp/L:san/E:san/I:miq/R:miq