LAHORE, Aug 15: Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mian Misbahur Rehman has said that unchecked smuggling of goods from China and Afghanistan is paralysing the manufacturing base of the country.

Talking to Director General (Customs Valuation), Central Board of Revenue, Abdul Wadood Khan here on Monday, the LCCI president said that the local markets were flooded by all kinds of smuggled consumer goods like shoes, tyres, plastic goods, auto parts, readymade garments, electronics, electrical goods and toiletries leaving little room for the marketing of the locally manufactured products. Smuggling was continuing through misdeclaration and under-invoicing despite reduction in customs duty by the government.

He said that scanning machines should be installed at all the ports for checking smuggling and the quality and quantity of goods for discouraging misdeclaration by importers. Steps should also be taken for checking misuse of powers by the Appraisement Intelligence Branch officials resulting in delay in clearance of goods after payment of duty and taxes by the importers. Instead of raising post-clearance objections the AIB officials should check the consignments at the time of appraisement.

He said that the customs officials should be provided lists of goods being manufactured in the country. Specific names of articles and complete specifications should be provided to the customs staff to avoid confusion created on account of generic or descriptive names. Conditions at the Allama Iqbal International Airport cargo terminal should be improved by providing facilities like drinking water, sunshades and waiting rooms for the exporters.

DG Customs Valuation assured the LCCI president that necessary steps would be taken for checking smuggling.