FPCCI urges adviser to secure waiver from demurrage, container detention charges

President, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Mian Anjum Nisar, in a video link meeting with the Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, urged him to use his good offices to secure a waiver from demurrage and container detention charges of those 20,000 containers which could not be cleared within the specified time period due to the lockdown in the country.

The Adviser replied, "Progress in waiver of demurrage and detention charges would be made within the next 24 hours."

Meanwhile, Convener of the FPCCI Budget Advisory Council (BAC), Zakaria Usman, said that the customs tariff be levied on the basis of cascading to curb post-budget anomalies.

He proposed to encourage import substitution industries and export of non-traditional items, establishment of value added industries, promotion of branding, etc.

He also invited the attention of the adviser to the 6,000-7,000 motor vehicles which have been stuck up due to non-availability of encashment certificate because the international flights are not operational and the diaspora concerned could not come to Pakistan.

He proposed that land be given to the investors at a cheaper rate for establishment of industries within two years otherwise the land should be confiscated.

The adviser in his statement said that he would hold a joint meeting with the FPCCI and the chairman of the industrial zone authority to take a decision on the establishment of the industrial zone.

He invited the FPCCI team to discuss the issue of levying of duty on the basis of cascading principle.

Regarding the vehicles stuck at the port due to non-availability of encashment certificate, he said he would talk to the ministry of commerce.

In response to inordinate delay in income tax, sales tax and export-related refunds (DLTL), he said refunds would be made to all whether exporter or non-exporter within the stipulated time frame otherwise he may be contacted and informed.

He said that cheques of Rs40 billion refunds had been issued to the taxpayers.

In response to withdrawal of regulatory duty on import of tyres, Hafeez Shaikh said that the tyre importers would get some news soon.

He appreciated the FPCCI pre-budget proposals and said that these were very comprehensive and would be discussed in detail in a joint meeting with Hammad Azhar, federal minister for industries and production, Razak Dawood, adviser to PM on commerce, and the FPCCI.