September 28, 2007	Friday	Ramazan 15, 1428

KARACHI, Sept 27: The sale of children garments, shoes, imitation jewellery, gents’ suiting from old stocks for Eid ul Fitre continue unabated as the customs held up clearance of 670 containers loaded with new items at the port since September 11.

Due to delay in supply of fresh items majority of the local markets do not have new stocks and are facing shortage of these items. Many shopkeepers, who have limited old stocks, are indulged in over-charging from the consumers, who have no idea about the situation. Many shopkeepers are seen charging over 100 per cent on children garments and shoes.

Out of 670 containers, 108 containers belong to local dealers in Karachi, while the rest are destined for the upcountry. Traders had booked new consignments for Eid one and a half months back from China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Chairman Tariq Road Traders Action Committee (TRTAC) Siddiq Memon said many markets had only 25 per cent stocks in their hands and even many super stores were facing problems due to shortage of garments, and shoes etc.

He said many shopkeepers were asking their old customers to wait for few days in anticipation of clearance of goods.

The total cost of products loaded in the containers comes to Rs4.5 billion with one container of shoes valuing at $12,000 and children garments $28,000-30,000 each.

He claimed that some 50 per cent customers, who visit markets regularly go back without shopping after finding old stocks on sale.

It believed that customs had suspended the clearance of containers on the assumption of heavy under-invoicing and mis-declaration of goods by the importers but he defended the traders by saying this was not the case and customs officials were demanding higher valuation.

He said the customs officials were now demanding Rs600,000 duty per container as compared to Rs300,000 earlier due to assessment of value under a new rule. He said that the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had not issued any new rule for assessment of value at higher rate for clearing the goods.

Giving an example, he said in children garments customs was demanding $3.60 per kg as per new rule for valuation as compared with $1.30 per kg while in shoes they are seeking 25-30 per cent increase in value.

“Our agents are in talks with customs and hopefully some thing will be settled on Friday through negotiations,” he said.

When Deputy Collector of Appraisement Yasin Murtaza was approached for comments, he said he could not tell the exact situation as his department was not handling this matter. He referred the query to the Customs Model Collectorate where the concerned official Mr Umar Shafiq did not attend the phone despite repeated attempts.

Several efforts were made to approach Collector of Customs Appraisement Ameer Mohammad Khan Marwat but he did not respond. Last year, the local industry manufacturing children garments, gents suiting and shoes had requested the FBR to check instances of heavy under- invoicing and mis-declaration of imported items, which have almost knocked out local items due to their uncompetitive prices compared to the imported stuff.