HCSTSI demands release of imported vegetables, fruits from Karachi Port

President Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI) Muhammad Akram Ansari has demanded the release of vegetables and fruits, which were imported from China and other countries of the world halted at the Karachi Port due to ban on import permits by the Department of Plant Protection.
Talking to Business Recorder, he said that numbers of containers containing vegetables and fruits were being imported in Pakistan from other countries of the world including China and were released by the authorities concerned after imposing a fine up to Rs 10,000 per consignment bus after November 22, 2016, these containers have been halted at the port by issuing an unknown SRO.
As a result of this situation, the imported vegetables and fruits are going to waste causing financial losses to importers as besides investment; they are also paying the demurrages to port authority. The stoppage of imported vegetables and fruits would also give bad impressions to the countries which are exporting their produces towards Pakistan, he said and added that it could lead the damages of trade and diplomatic relations with these countries.
He demanded Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, high-ups of the Department of Plant Protection and other ministries concerned to intervene into the matter and issue directives of releasing the halted imported vegetables and fruits as the importers are bringing the products by adopting legal procedure and paying duty as compared to those who are involved in smuggling of these goods.