KARACHI, July 27: Used and reconditioned car dealers kept their shutters down throughout the day on Tuesday to protest against the Customs General Order (CGO) regarding the import of cars.

They demanded of the government to withdraw the CGO and if the order was not withdrawn, dealers would decide the future course of action on August 1, 2004.

The chairman, All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA), HM Shahzad, addressing a press conference at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday, claimed that all the showrooms all over the country observed shutter-down strike to protest the CGO, which is causing sleepless nights for the used car dealers.

He said that the association may knock the doors of the Supreme Court if the government adopts dilly-dallying tactics in withdrawing the CGO. When Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz had already announced 50 per cent depreciation on reconditioned cars in the budget for 2004-2005, then what is the justification of making changes in the decision by issuing a CGO, he said.

Contrary to the decision of federal budget, the Central Board of Revenue (CBR) has made changes in the CGO which was issued on July 09, 2004, cutting down the depreciation to 20 per cent.

The CGO has caused huge losses to those dealers who had booked these vehicles. He claimed that around 450 cars (200 at Karachi Port and 150 at the Port Qasim) were awaiting clearance as dealers cannot pay the new duty, Shahzad said adding that around 400 vehicles are coming.

He recalled that the Customs had released 250 vehicles from June 12 to July 8 on 50 per cent depreciation. He urged the government to restore 50 per cent depreciation on the reconditioned cars.

The association also took out a protest rally from central office of the APMDA at new M.A Jinnah Road (Fatimah Jinnah Colony) to the Karachi Press Club. The association members hold a protest outside the club and chanted slogans against the CGO.