KARACHI: President of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Zakaria Usman has urged concerned authorities to ensure foolproof measures to combat smuggling of different goods from Iran through Chaman border located in Balochistan.
"This is urgently needed to protect the local industries and legal importers, he said during his meeting with Muhammad Yahya, Chief Collector Customs - Enforcement (South), Wasif Ali Memon, Collector Customs (MCC Exports) and Agha Shahid Majeed Khan, Collector of Model Customs Collectorate, Port Qasim here Wednesday evening.
Zakaria said smuggling is one of the major factors contributory to black economy that is steadily growing due to unauthorized economic activity.
He urged the customs officials to find out the reasons as why the smuggling of even such goods is growing that otherwise can be imported easily through legal channels.
FPCCI President himself opined that complicated policies for legal tax payers is a major deterrent for those keen to run their business in accordance to law.
The valuation procedure has to be updated and simplified by the Customs department as the current cumbersome procedures of imported goods valuation further adds to the complication and confusion, said Zakaria.
He suggested that all items must be attached with the international publications that would be equally easy for the customs authorities as well as the tax payers.
Other members of FPCCI on the occasion drew the attention of the Collector Customs officials towards the problems related to customs clearance and under invoicing due to which the local industries are badly affected.
Shaukat Ahmed, Sr. Vice President, Mazhar Ali Nasir, Khurram Sayeed, Vice Presidents of FPCCI and Saqib Fayyaz Maggon, Chairman FPCCI Standing Committee on Customs particularly mentioned that smuggling of plastic granules, sulphonic acid, tiles and other items is discouraging the real importers and causing loss to the national exchequer and the concerned industries.
Muhammad Yahya, Chief Collector Customs Enforcement on the occasion said the Customs Department through concerted efforts has managed to curb smuggling, to an extent, and would ensure that it is brought to an end for good.
He assured the business community to look into the issue of under invoicing and suggested that FPCCI's budget proposals must be first forwarded to the concerned Customs Collectorates so that FBR may feel it comfortable to understand and incorporate them in the budget.
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