Traders urged to utilise Multan Dry Port

Chairman also vows to address exporters’ problems

MULTAN: The up-country dry port has contributed a lot towards the national exchequer and played a vital role in development of exports but there is lethargy in resolution of problems by concerned departments, said Multan Dry Port Trust Chairman Muhammad Ahmed Chughtai.

Addressing a meeting of Custom Clearing agents and members of the Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Chughtai said the trading community should utilise the facility of Multan dry port for its survival while their problems would be redressed on top-priority basis.

He said that exporters were not using the up-country dry port due to considerable delay in refund of rebate claims as compared to duration of refund of rebate claims at Karachi Collectorates. “Ruthless double checking of export consignments by the Anti-Narcotic Force, WeBOC system is creating problems for exporters instead of facilitating them.”

“In the Web Based One Customs (WeBOC) system, it is extremely difficult to rectify even a simple typographic error,” said MCCI President Khawaja Muhammad Yousaf. “A number of times issues regarding WeBOC were conveyed and discussed with departments concerned but nobody cared or took notice.”

“Similarly, licences of bonded carriers are suspended every month, which halt the export and import processes and cause the missing of vessels and financial loss,” he added.

Meanwhile, FPCCI Vice President Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah said a help desk should be formed immediately to facilitate exports and imports round the clock to rectify errors in the WoBOC system, hence paving way for the smooth clearance of consignments.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2016.

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