RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF) Chairman Irfan Iqbal Sheikh has said the sale of smuggled goods is causing over Rs 22 billion annual losses to national exchequer. Local industry is in crisis due to smuggled items from Afghanistan Iran and Dubai, he added.

He stated this while talking at a reception given by Pakistan Automobile Spare Parts Importers and Dealers Association at Badami Bagh Market here on Monday. Association Vice Chairman Khawaja Shahzeb Akram and other office-bearers were also present.

He said, “Pakistan is facing the challenge of measuring and countering enormous revenue leakages and black money that is about three times the regular economy. Thousands of industrial units have been rendered sick because of availability of smuggled goods in open markets.”

“Afghan Transit Trade is the main source of smuggling into Pakistan, about 70 percent of the total smuggling causing a revenue loss of Rs 22 billion annually to the national exchequer,” he added.

He appealed to the authorities concerned to take strict action against the smugglers and make a proper and viable policy for them for the sake of local industries.

PIAF Patron-in-Chief Mian Anjum Nisar also spoke and urged Federal Minister to stop Intelligence Units of the Customs Department from creating harassment among the business community. He alleged that despite clear directions of the Punjab chief minister, an atmosphere of harassment is being created for the businessmen. The trading sector is already passing through very critical time due to shortage of energy and in dire need of handholding by the government to run their businesses, he added.