The Pakistan Customs Agents Association on Saturday called off its indefinite strike after assurances from Senator Faisal Vawda, who expressed gratitude to the agents for ending the protest at his request.
Vawda said that customs agents facilitate the collection of Rs400 billion in monthly duties, warning that their strike could have inflicted irreparable damage to the economy while exacerbating inflationary pressures.
The senator has summoned customs agents to appear before the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed.
Vawda also demanded a list of corrupt officials, stating that "our national tragedy is that small thieves are caught while the big ones go free". He further noted that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has directed that Pakistan's interests must come first.
On road safety issues, Vawda suggested capping dumper truck speeds at 40 km/h to prevent accidents.
Regarding Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) political ordeal, he alleged that the leadership of the former ruling party wanted its incarcerated supremo Imran Khan to remain in jail, adding that "the so-called trump card has turned into a mere play card".
He further claimed that a political compromise had been reached under which Imran would stay imprisoned.
Vawda also stressed the importance of the maritime sector, saying that it has the potential to eliminate the country's debt. He vowed to reclaim encroached lands worth billions at Port Qasim.
Earlier, All Pakistan Customs Agents and Karachi Customs Agents leaders Saifullah Khan and Muhammad Aamir had announced a strike starting February 25, warning that it could halt imports of essential goods like edible oil and disrupt the supply chain.
They argued that the suspension of 45 customs agents' licenses would lead to revenue shortfalls and demanded the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the matter. Although the courts had reinstated the suspended licenses, customs authorities had yet to withdraw show-cause notices issued to the agents.
Saifullah Khan warned that the FBR chairman's move to eliminate middlemen could result in mass suspensions, potentially affecting 450 agents.
Before announcing the strike, the Pakistan Customs Agents Association had written to Senator Faisal Vawda, requesting an inquiry into the suspensions.
The letter denounced FIRs against customs agents as baseless and an attempt to cover up corruption within the Customs Department. The association urged Vawda to ensure justice and protect agents from unjustified actions.
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