Traders urge govt to review banned items’ list

Businessmen have demanded the government to reconsider the ban on import of luxury items, as according to them the decision was taken without proper consultation.

In a statement issued on Monday, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) President Nadeem Rauf said that the government had taken a hasty decision without consulting the stakeholders.

“As a result, the HS (harmonised system) codes of many essential items are also falling under the same ban,” he said, adding that import of vitamins and medicines (coccidiostats) used in livestock and poultry feed had also been banned that would further increase the price of meat and poultry.

In that regard, Rauf mentioned that they had convened a meeting of traders from the affected sectors in order to seek suggestions/ solutions to be presented to the government.

He urged the government to revisit the ground realities as there were many items that were not even manufactured locally.

He was of the view that the import of air conditioners, heaters, chillers etc had been banned, while they were “no longer a luxury” but needed in hospitals, colleges, universities, business centres and homes.

“Bakery products, eyeglasses, leather used in shoes, automobiles, lighting and many other items also do not fall in the luxury category, but have been banned due to the similar code or chapter.”

He feared that the measure could increase smuggling, which would further affect revenue collection of the government.

The business community was in favour of banning the import of luxury items in the current economic situation, but the list of ban items should be reviewed.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2022.

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