Blocked imported consignments pave way for massive smuggling of automobile spare parts: PASPIDA - Press Release issued by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Karachi -- February 03, 2023 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI)

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Members of a delegation from Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers and Dealers Association (PASPIDA), while expressing deep concerns over stuck up containers and non-issuance of LCs, stated that the situation has triggered severe crises for the automobile sector as it has been discouraging imports through legal channels and paved way for massive smuggling of spare parts through illegal channels including blatant misuse of the Afghan Transit Trade, causing severe losses not only to legitimate traders but also to the national exchequer.

"Although consignments remain stuck up at the ports yet the spare parts of all types of vehicles are easily available all over Pakistan as these are being smuggled into the country through illegal channels without any check", said Sheikh Haroon Baksh, Leader of PASPIDA delegation during visit to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI). President KCCI Mohammed Tariq Yousuf, Senior Vice President Touseef Ahmed, Former President KCCI Muhammad Idrees, Patron-in-Chief PASPIDA Arshad Islam, Former Vice President Qazi Zahid Hussain, PASPIDA delegation and KCCI Managing Committee Members attended the meeting.

Haroon Baksh, while stressing the need to bring down the exorbitant duties on imported spare parts, informed that nowadays the Custom Authorities were imposing duties as per weight of imported consignment regardless of considering the actual worth of consignment which was totally illogical as several spare parts, though heavier, were not so expensive but these go beyond the reach of buyers after imposition of exorbitant duties calculated as per weight. "In this situation, smuggling is thriving which is neither in favour of businesses nor the already ailing economy", he added while requesting KCCI to take up these issues with relevant authorities.

Speaking on the occasion, Patron-in-Chief PASPIDA Arshad Islam appreciated the Karachi Chamber for all the efforts being made to get the LCs and stuck-up containers' issues resolved by devotedly taking up not only with the authorities at federal level but also with all the shipping lines and terminal operators. "While anxiously waiting for relief, the traders of spare parts are fairly optimistic that this issue will soon be amicably resolved thanks to all the hard work being done by KCCI in an extremely challenging...