APFEA seeks KCCI's help to check rising raids by customs.

KARACHI -- Members of a delegation from All Pakistan Furniture Exporters Association (APFEA), while expressing deep concerns over rising number of raids being conducted by customs authorities, stated that the upsurge in customs raids at the furniture markets of the city including the most recent one in Nursery Furniture Market, were terribly tarnishing the reputation and integrity of legitimate shopkeepers who have to be saved from unbridled harassment by customs authorities, says a Press release.

Instead of conducting raids by bringing along hundreds of individuals which triggers a lot of panic in the entire market, the customs authorities should come up with any other appropriate strategy to deal with any issue with a view to avoid panic and save shopkeepers from going through an embarrassing situation, said APFEA members, while requesting KCCI to intervene in this matter so that all such raids being conducted to harass shopkeepers could be controlled.

Exchanging views during their visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), APFEA delegation further mentioned that hundreds of laborers being engaged by customs authorities during raids were often involved in stealing other valuable items and cash etc. from shops by taking advantage of the panic situation which

causes more losses to perturbed shopkeepers. Chairman APFEA Rana Waheed requested KCCI to take up the pressing matter of raids with customs authorities at the earliest possible time so that relief could be provided to perturbed shopkeepers who despite facing so many challenges were somehow trying their best to keep businesses running in the ongoing era inflation wherein the business activities were almost stagnant. He also appreciated all the efforts by KCCI, particularly Chairman BMG Zubair Motiwala which resulted in exit of furniture industry from Tier-I retailers' category for sales tax collection.

He further said that despite numerous economic challenges, furniture exports have been rising every year since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. "Furniture industry has great potential to grow and boost furniture exports to US$ 1 billion but it has to be provided an enabling business environment with reduced cost of doing business so that...