President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s advise to Customs Agents to call off strike

Islamabad, September 10, 2013 (PPI-OT): Zubair Ahmed Malik President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) in a press statement has suggested to All Pakistan Customs Clearance Agents Association (APCCA), Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) and All Pakistan Bonded Carrier Association (APBCA) to call off their country wide strike commenced from today for an indefinite period against the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) move of issuing recovery notices to customs agents and bonded carriers in International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) for missing containers scam.

President FPCCI said that the strike would hamper the clearance of goods at ports and likely to result in demurrages on the consignments effecting the overall movement of goods across Pakistan.

He further lamented that more than 1,200 imports and 800 exports Goods Declarations (GDs) at Karachi and Bin Qasim Ports on daily basis would come to a standstill with this strike which will affect the timely shipment of goods and their clearance at Ports which would result in a shortfall to the tune of Rs. 8 billion per day.

Zubair proposed that it would be in the national interest that instead of observing strike the concerned associations could negotiate their demands with the FBR across the table for a better settlement of their issues.

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,
Shahra-e-Firdousi,
Karachi-75600, Pakistan
Tel: 0092-21-35873691, 93-94
Fax: +9221 3587 4332
Email: info@fpcci.com.pk
URL: www.fpcci.com.pk