PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) traders on Friday opposed the recent amendment to the Custom Act which restored the powers of Director General Karachi to determine the custom value of fresh and dry fruits imports from Afghanistan. Traders said that the decision was not their best interest and promotion of mutual trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which should be withdrawn immediately.
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The participants of the meeting at Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) informed that the traders in a large number are associated with the import of fresh and dry fruits from Afghanistan. Earlier, its custom valuation was done by a committee constituted by authorities in Peshawar and Quetta. “The valuation of dry and fresh fruits from EU and US are higher because of their high standards and quality while fresh and dry fruits from Afghanistan are natural and low grade products bearing low value,” the traders said.
Thus, qualities from EU and U.S and Afghanistan differ greatly and therefore, have different values, it added. The participants expressed fear that determination of the same valuation to both fruit imported from EU and U.S and Afghanistan will prove disastrous for Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade.
The traders said the resultant increased valuation by Pakistan for imported fruit from Afghanistan increases valuation of imports from Pakistan, rendering Pakistani products uncompetitive in Afghan Market, which will never be suited to them and against the Pak-Afghan mutual and transit trade.
The meeting informed that the Section 25-A was inserted in the last budget for facilitation of trade from Afghanistan wherein collectors were empowered to determine value of imported goods from land border stations after consultation process including relevant chambers of commerce and trade bodies.
However, it mentioned that the Custom Act has again amended by deleting Section 25-A, which has become cause of difficulties for the Afghan agri/exporters and Pakistani importers as well. The meeting again argued that trade at borders is totally different from trade at sea ports coming from developed countries that have high quality agri products.
The traders urged the government to revise its decision in best interest of the business community and Pak-Afghan mutual and transit trade.