By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
PESHAWAR: A delegation of the Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by its president Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi, called on the newly appointed Collector Customs Appraisement, Ziaullah Shams, at the customs house on Tuesday.
The delegation included FCAA general secretary Mian Waheed Bacha, executive member Arshad Khan and other office-bearers. Sarhadi congratulated Ziaullah Shams on his appointment and expressed confidence that his experience in various customs positions, including collector customs enforcement, additional collector and deputy collector at customs house Peshawar, would help improve customs administration.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the challenges facing the business community, stating that the prolonged disruption of trade through the Torkham border and other crossing points had severely affected commercial activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
They said customs clearing agents, importers, exporters, transporters, labourers and other stakeholders had suffered significant financial losses due to the shutdown of Torkham and other border points for trade.
The delegation also pointed to delays in customs clearance at Azakhel dry port and called for an open-door policy to facilitate trade. It further expressed concern about the implementation of taxes in the merged districts of the former FATA and PATA, urging the federal government to consult the chambers of commerce and the business community before introducing policies that affect trade.
Sarhadi, who also serves as senior vice president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI), proposed launching export cargo train services from Azakhel dry port and allowing customs clearance of raw materials for industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the dry port instead of Karachi. He said the move would reduce costs for local industries, benefit Pakistan Railways through increased freight revenue and create business opportunities for customs clearing agents in the province.
The delegation later held separate meetings with newly appointed additional collector (Appraisement) dry port Saeqa Abbas and additional collector (Appraisement Headquarters) Najeeb Arjaman, where they discussed issues facing traders and customs agents and presented recommendations for improving customs procedures.
Collector Customs Ziaullah Shams assured the delegation of his full cooperation and said the issues raised would be addressed through consultation with stakeholders. He also assured that the delegation’s recommendations would be given due consideration.
Sarhadi thanked the collector for his positive response and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to working with customs authorities to facilitate trade and resolve issues faced by the business community.
