KARACHI: The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) has urged the authorities concerned to immediately address the concerns of traders in Quetta and the rest of Balochistan to resume import and export activity in the province.

Responding to the situation arising out of a strike called by the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry against the “unfair, illogical and illegitimate conduct” of customs intelligence in the province, FPCCI President Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo said it was tantamount to discouraging legal importers and exporters and encouraging smugglers, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

FPCCI’s Vice President Nasir Khan said cargo vehicles full of import and export goods were being stopped by the customs intelligence for no valid reasons, creating a huge backlog for the traders of Balochistan and inflicting unbearable financial losses to them.

Traders are left with no other option but to go on an indefinite strike against the customs intelligence department, he said, adding that the traders would not call off the strike until their concerns are addressed and the leadership of the department is replaced with an honest and competent one.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2021