FAISALABAD: The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) should critically analyse the Customs appraisement-related issues and submit viable and practical recommendations so that these could be resolved in the upcoming federal budget, said Naveed Elahi, Chief Collector Customs (Appraisement) Punjab.
Addressing the importers and exporters in FCCI, he assured that the problems at his level would be settled instantly while the valuation issues would be taken up with the Director General Valuation so that import and export consignments could be cleared at the same value across the country.
He expressed concern over the over-valuation of micro fabric, computers and its accessories and said that these have a negative impact on the overall exports. He further said that a faceless system has been introduced at Karachi which should be replicated at all other ports to facilitate the importers and exporters of the up country.
Responding to a question, the chief collector Customs said that the cargo tracking project was already under process and it would be implemented very soon. He assured that a Customs help desk would be established at FCCI to facilitate its members.
About checking of import and export consignments on roads, he said that this issue directly falls within the domain of the Enforcement Directorate and FCCI must invite chief collector Enforcement to discuss related issues with their tangible solutions.
He also mentioned the importance of the SME sector and said that he would try his optimum best to facilitate this sector to enhance overall exports.
Farooq Yousaf Sheikh, President FCCI welcomed the participants and said that we are facing not only trade but also trust deficit and we must work closely with the government departments to bridge this gap as our objectives are the same.
He said that as many as 392 containers were cleared at Faisalabad Dry Port Trust (FDPT) in 2023-24 which has now dwindled to 9 only.
“It is an eye opener for us and we must make collective efforts to exploit the full potential of this upcountry port,” he said and added that Faisalabad is one of the major hubs of used imported machinery but local importers prefer to clear their consignments at Karachi because of problems at local dry port.
He further said that the government has introduced an insurance system to replace bank guarantee which has stuck up the export business.
He suggested that the previous bank guarantee system should be restored to ensure smooth flow of import and export. Ahmed Afzal Awan, Zonal Chairman PHMA, Muzammil Sultan, Chairman FDPT, Mian Muhammad Tayyab, Faisal Pracha, Rana Faisal and Khwaja Shahid Razzaq Sikka took part in the question-answer session.
Former president Rana Sikandar Azam Khan offered vote of thanks while Farooq Yousaf Sheikh decorated Naveed Elahi, Chief Collector Customs Appraisement Punjab and Dr Rizwan Basharat, Collector Customs Faisalabad with collar pin to mark the Golden Jubilee of FCCI. Shields and gifts were also presented to the guests.
Later Naveed Elahi, Chief Collector Customs Appraisement Punjab recorded his impressions in the FCCI visitor’s book.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
