PESHAWAR: The traders and importers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed concerns over delay in clearance of a large number of containers at Karachi port following enforcement of relevant statutory regulatory orders and urged the ministry of commerce to postpone implementation of the SRO-237 till July31.

They threatened to launch a protest movement if federal government failed to take notice of their grievances regarding the statutory regulatory orders.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Monday, a group of importers and businessmen led by Sharafat Ali Mubarak and Arif Ejaz said that the ministry of commerce and industry imposed SRO-237 (1) 2019 on February 19, mandating labelling of ingredients, nutritional facts and usage instructions on imported goods in Urdu and English.

Urge govt to postpone enforcement of SRO-237 till July 31

Anjuman-i-Tajaran Khyber Pakhtunkhwa central president Sharafat Ali Mubarak said that as per the SRO-237, the shipment should be accompanied by a certificate, issued by Halal certification body, a member of International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF), or Standard Metrology Institute of Islamic Countries (SMIC).

He said that clearance of more than 2,400 containers and other consignments at Karachi port had been halted after enforcement of the SRO.

However, he welcomed the decision of ministry of commerce regarding obtaining of Halal certificate by two foreign companies before clearance of goods. He said that importers already paid several duties on the shipments, which reached Karachi port. He said that they could not afford to pay further duties.

Mr Mubarak said that the containers loaded with various food items and other goods had either reached Karachi ports or were on way from abroad because the traders had already placed orders for the supply before issuance of the SRO. He added that the consignments must be cleared without imposing any additional duty or condition on them.

He said that the importers were charged Rs4 million to Rs7million per container. He said that government had planned to generate hefty revenue through clearance of all containers but it would badly affect the smalltime traders and importers.

Mr Mubarak said that the attitude of Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industries, Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood was not friendly with business community. He added that the delegations of traders had time and again requested him to resolve the issues but to no avail.

The importers and traders said that they would march on Islamabad and stage a sit-in outside the ministry of commerce, if their demand was not accepted immediately.

“We will besiege the ministry of commerce and hold rallies if Prime Minister Imran Khan does not intervene in the matter,” said Mr Mubarak.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2019