Karachi, October 28, 2014 (PPI-OT): The exporters must ensure in time grounding of containers for the inspection of ANF and the port terminal authorities should fix a specific space for such containers which are to be inspected by ANF with proper arrangement of tarpaulins for de-stuffing the containers.
This was stated by Zakaria Usman, President FPCCI and ECO CCI in meeting with Brig. Abu Zar, Regional Director, Anti Narcotic Force, Sindh which was also attended by Ismail Suttar, Vice President FPCCI, Javed Saeed Shaikh from PQA, Khurram Aziz Khan from PICT, Zafarullah Jan from KICT, Muhammad Azam Memon from Ministry of Port and Shipping, Muhammad Rizwan, MD DP World and Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, Development Finance Group, State Bank of Pakistan.
Zakaria Usman further informed that this was the second phase of meetings between FPCCI and ANF with the objective to make smooth inspections of the containers by ANF without damaging the goods during the process of de-stuffing and re-stuffing the containers and unpacking and re-packing the goods.
He said that the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry specially invited all concerned stakeholders to attend the meeting and find the suitable solution of the problem of the exporters and save them from financial losses on account of damages to the goods and cancellation of export orders and demurrages of the port authorities as the port authorities charge the exporters international rates against such services but in fact the quality of their service is much lower as compared to foreign ports authorities.
Zakaria Usman informed that FPCCI took initiative to resolve the issues of the inspections of goods at all ports and airports and to save the exporters from financial losses. In this regards the first meeting was held in the month of September, 2014 in which it was decided that the authorities of all ports, terminal operators and state bank should also be taken on board to find out the appropriate solution with the consent of all stakeholders.
Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director SBP said that SBP is working on the arrangements of use of E Form through electronic transmission so that the chance of misuse of Form “E” can be eliminated. However, SBP is reviewing its legal aspects.
The representative of PQA informed that the cases of complaints of damages to goods during ANF inspection are very negligible because they have hired the services of professional packers. The KICT representatives said that KICT is also looking for hiring the professional packers and urged FPCCI to recommend such professional companies.
Brig. Abu Zar informed that the cargo either is not repacked properly or not re-stuffed in the containers correctly or got dirty during ANF inspection due to handling by un-skilled labour of the port authorities, lack of machineries for re-packing and proper equipments, no cleanliness arrangements in inspection yards and un-professional packers. He recommended that.
The President FPCCI and Regional Director ANF appreciated the efforts of the port authorities for improving their services to the exporter for which they are to be paid by them.
For more information, contact:
M. A. Lodhi
Secretary General
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)
B-1, Federation House, Main Clifton Road,
Shahrah-e-Firdousi,
Karachi-75600, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-35873691, 93-94
Fax: +92-21-35874332
Email: info@fpcci.com.pk
URL: www.fpcci.com.pk
The post The exporters must ensure in time grounding of containers for the inspection of ANF: Zakaria Usman appeared first on Business News Pakistan.