HYDERABAD: President Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HCCI) Adeel Siddiqui has said that thousands of containers were stuck at Karachi port due to unavailability of dollars and importers were bearing demurrage charges. He called for setting up of National Economic Crisis Council (NECC) like NCOC.

In a statement issued here Sunday he urged the federal government to waive demurrage charges to importers. He said that importers were facing tremendous difficulties in clearance of containers and added that it was due to defective policies of government that these containers were stuck at the port.

HCCI Chief said that these containers have brought raw material used in industries like chemical, bicycle parts, shampoo, cosmetics, fresh coconut and etc. He said that food items could be contaminated due to this delay. He added that due to policies of State Bank of Pakistan traders were in trouble.

He added that traders and businessmen faced such conditions in Covid-19. He said that SBP’s policies give a message to the world that Pakistan, God forbids, was heading for bankruptcy which was not true.

Siddiqui said that chaos was being spread in the country and that due to shortage of raw material unrest was prevailing among people. He urged government to set up National Economic Crisis Council (NECC) like National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) created in Covid-19. He said that businessmen know trade and commerce quite well and they have the potential to manage Pakistan’s economic. He said businessmen could go to any length for economic stability in the country.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022