TMA delegation apprises minister of problems faced by exporters

KARACHI: A TMA delegation on Monday met with the Minister Port & Shipping, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi under the chairmanship of Kashif Mehtab Chawla along with senior members Syed Usman Ali, Aamir Hassan Lari and Muzzammil Husain, Secretary General of the Association.

Kashif Mehtab Chawla thanked the Minister Port & Shipping, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi for having spared his valuable time for the TMA members to listen their problems. The chairman of the Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan highlighted that:

The Export sector is facing severe scarcity of containers as well as non-availability of ships for the export of our goods. Due to which we are in deep trouble and we request you to please sort out the problem on top priority as goods are ready to export on the occasion of Christmas. If we do not deliver our consignment in time, it will become a liability for us.

The second issue is that KPT allowed five days goods storage for export goods while Port Qasim allowed seven days for the same without any cost. After these specific periods of free of cost they charge $15 per day from the exporters. Due to non-availability of ships and containers, our goods lays pending at ports more than specific free of cost time. It is beyond the control of Exporters. Due to these crises, exporters are in hot water and bearing delay in export consignments. Hence, kindly intervene in the matter and allow the storage of goods for the unlimited period as well as removal of port charges till the situation persists. The minister assured his positive support to resolve the goods storage charges till the situation becomes normal.

Kashif Mehtab Chawla highlighted another issue which pertains to combine Effluent Treatment Plant for the industrial areas of Karachi. On this occasion TMA secretary general informed the minister that the feasibility of seven projects of Effluent Treatment Plant ready and pending the same from very long time. Your ministry is related to Port & Shipping so we are discussing the same with you. Due to non-existing of CEPT, the coastal area of the sea becomes polluted and it is harmful for marine life. We must install the CEPT to safeguard nature. It will also positively impact on the environment as well as it will reduce the load of usage of fresh water. The minister replied that we planned to establish a committee wherein Trade Association's representatives would also be included to resolve these types of issues on the top priority.

Chairman TMA, Kashif Mehtab Chawla appreciated the minister for spared valuable time for the TMA delegation and shared valuable thoughts and assured his support on the hot issues of exporters.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021