QUETTA: Chief Collector Customs Balochistan Mohammad Sadiq has said that all available resources are being utilised for promoting legal trade in the province with the cooperation of business community and their representative bodies.

Addressing a function on Wednesday to celebrate the World Customs Day, he said with the cooperation of the business community, shortage of resources would be overcome by utilising modern technology.

President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) Fida Hussain Dashti and a large number of traders and businessmen also attended the function.

Mr Sadiq said despite shortage of manpower and resources, the Customs Department was making all efforts to curb illegal trade and smuggling and promote illegal trade with neighbouring countries.

“Our doors are open for the business community, especially for those who are running their industries in the province and Pakistan Customs will continue to extend all possible help and cooperation to the businessmen,” he said.

He lauded the role played by the QCCI and other business organisations for the promotion of legal trade in the province. “Up to 15 per cent increase in the legal trade of fruit and other items is a welcome sign,” he said.

Mr Sadiq said steps were being taken by the federal government to assess the problems faced by the people affiliated with the industry and trade in Balochistan.

“We welcome suggestions from the chambers and the business community for the promotion of legal trade,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, QCCI President Fida Hussain Dashti said that the chief collector was playing an effective role in discouraging the illegal trade and smuggling and utilising professional skills for the legal trade.

He said the orders issued by the Federal Board of Revenue and State Bank of Pakistan had dealt a severe blow to the legal trade due to which trade activities had not increased.

“We appeal to the authorities to take steps within the ambit of the Customs Act and the Export and Import Policy keeping in view the ground realities and to comply with the Interim Office Order,” the QCCI president said.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2022