December 21, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 29, 1427

KARACHI, Dec 20: The All-Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association (APFVEIMA) has alleged that delay on part of customs authorities in the clearance of perishable goods was bearing negative impact on their exports.

Talking to newsmen at the Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday, association’s chairman Abdul Wahid criticised customs authorities for delaying clearance of fruits and vegetables, thereby causing damage to perishable goods.

He said there was only one dog with the customs to sniff drugs and it takes a full day to inspect a single consignment which badly deteriorates the quality of perishable goods for keeping them in the open for long.

Citing an example, Abdul Wahid said kinno exports have been badly affected during current fiscal year because customs authorities took long time to inspect and clear the consignments. During this period, the perishable goods are kept in the open which adversely affects their quality and also reduces their shelf life.

He further said that if kinno is taken out of its packing and kept in the open for long hours, it loses it freshness and quality and becomes unfit for export, he maintained.

Abdul Wahid said kinno crop is short this year and around 1.5 million tons is expected as against 2.6 million tons produced last year. In case customs authorities continue to create hurdles, it will have a negative impact on export trade. Last year, around 0.2 million tons of kinno was exported and this year around 80,000 tons is expected to be exported, he added. He urged the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to intervene and ask the customs authorities to give priority in the clearance and examination to fruits and vegetables as was being done in the case of fresh fish.