KARACHI: Pakistan Customs officials have assured that the problems of importers and custom agents will be solved without delay at KICT and officers involved in deliberate delay will be sacked from their position.
The importers and Customs agents have shown their grave concerns over the delaying tactics of staff of Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) while grounding the containers for examination.
Talking to Customs Today, the importers and Customs agents hold unskilled labor at KICT responsible for delaying in grounding the containers for examination.
“Importers and Customs agents have been facing misbehavior and unprofessional attitude of KICT workers in grounding their containers for examination” Haji Adreese, an importer lamented.
“The grounding of the containers at examination area could be delayed for 9 to 10 days and importers were compelled to pay Rs3000 per day as detention charges due to delay in grounding the containers for examination,” he added.
Mr. Idrees further said that the containers laid unattended for 3 to 4 days and no one of the terminal officials care about that.
Yasir Iqbal, a customs agent told Customs Today that detention charges and delayed tactics had increased the cost of business which could discourages
“There should be trained workers at KICT who were trained to tackle the traffic at KICT in organized way while examination of containers” he added.
When contacted Pakistan Customs official, Assistant Collector Usman Tariq said that recent spell of monsoon has affected the examination process at KICT otherwise the examination process took 6-8 hours in normal routine.
He admitted that the terminal operator uses delayed tactic while grounding the containers for examination and assured that problem will be solved to encourage the traders.
Assistant Collector further said that the absence of proper lighting system at stacking area was also a reason of delay in examination process.
Assistant Collector said that the authorities of Pakistan Customs has already held meetings with all stake holders including office-bearers of KCAA, KCCI, FPCCI and others for suggestions to improve examination system and to assist importers.
Assistant Collector Marium Khan while sharing her views with Customs Today said that they have been monitoring work distribution and performance of workers at KICT on regular basis which also resulted into deputation of 3 officers of Pakistan Customs recently.
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