PAKISTAN: A three member delegation of Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA) met the newly appointed Chief Collector Customs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Saleem here at Model Customs House on Saturday.
The delegation was led by Ziaul Haq Sarhadi while Imtiza Ahmad Ali and secretary General Waheed Shah Bacha were also part of the delegation.
The newly appointed Chief Collector Custom Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Salim expressed his full cooperation and help for the promotion of trade activities within the country.
He also assured the delegation to bring further ease in the import and export with Afghanistan and central Asian states.
Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said that the fresh fruit season in Afghanistan was at peak and the custom authorities should expadite import documentation process so that maximum fresh fruits could be transported to Pakistan on time.
The delegation informed custom chief that around 250 trucks loaded with grapes, apple, muskmelon, apricot and fresh vegetables along with 200 Soapstone and coal-laden trucks were being imported on daily basis from Afghanistan. They said the Afghan Customs department also work hard so that they could export the fresh fruits as soon as possible.
Ziaul Haq Sarhadi said besides custom department, National Logistic Cell and Frontier Corps were also present for checking of imported trucks at Torkham Border.
He said much time consuming process of empty trucks checking at the border create hurdles for the trucks carrying perishable items including fresh
fruits.
Sarhadi urged both relevant departments to take minimum time to clear empty trucks in a large number at Torkham border.
On the occasion, Members of the delegation apprised business community concerns on Afghan transit trade including transit trade, dry port Azakhel, Bacha Khan Airport Chief Collector Muhammad Saleem.
The clearing agents are facing some problems which need to be solved, Sarhadi said.
He added that due to the non-operation of Pakistan Railways for the last 20 years, the process of export from Peshawar through railways has ended.
The delegation appreciated Chief Collector Customs Muhammad Saleem for his previous services as Collector Customs Appraisal and said that he has served at all these positions.
Sarhadi expressed the hope that Muhammad Saleem as the Chief Collector Customs Peshawar would solve the problems of the customs agents community on a priority basis.
They are well aware of the problems and, God willing, steps will be taken to solve them through mutual consultation, the FCAA president said.
He said that customs clearing agents and the customs department are part and parcel and indispensable for each other.
Muhamamd Saleem fully agreed with the recommendations presented by Zia-ul-Haq Sardi and assured him that the implementation of these recommendations and requests would be ensured.
Zia-ul-Haq Shardi thanked the Chief Collector Customs Peshawar for assuring the delegation of customs agents to consider their submissions sympathetically. He assured to extend all possible support through the association and business community.
