RECORDER REPORT

FAISALABAD: Faisalabad Dry Port Trust (FDPT) is an important export related institution of textile capital and best efforts would be made to restore its vibrancy on sustained basis said former textile Minister Mushtaq Ali Cheema.

Talking to a group of journalist after taking over the charge of Chairman Faisalabad Dry Port Trust for the year 2018-19 here today, he said that international recession had badly affected this private sector Dry Port, which was supposed to spur textile exports from this city in a big way.

He said that FDPT was running in losses for the last two years because of mismanagement coupled with other factors.

He said that as the textile export is gradually picking up hence we must revitalize our policies to enhance the export facilities for the local exporters as well as importers.

He said that FDPT had played an important role in enhancing exports from Faisalabad, but for the last two years it was losing ground.

He said that it will be his prime duty to run this institution on profitable lines by improving its management and marketing on top priority basis.

“We are striving hard to provide best facilities to importers and exporters, he said and added that matching facilities would be ensured at FDPT as are available at other upcountry ports.

He said that FDPT is an institution of business community of Faisalabad hence newly elected office bearers are duty bound to utilize their services to enhance exports from this port and earn previous foreign exchange for the country.

He assured that full cooperation will be extended to the custom officials for the speedy and easy clearance of the exports consignments.

In this connection, concerned government departments would also be taken into confidence and procedural bottleneck would be removed to facilitate the importers and exporters.

He said that efficient working of FDPT will automatically lessen burden on Karachi and Port Qasim sea ports in addition to ensuring speedy movements of the export containers.

He further said that he is fully aware of the problems confronted by the exporters and try his optimum best to make the transportation of export containers speedy as well as cheaper.

In this connection the Provincial Infrastructural Development Cess imposed by Sindh and Punjab governments fall within the preview of double taxation and hence Punjab government will be requested to withdraw this cess to facilitate the exports from upcountry ports.

Newly elected Vice Chairman Muzammal Sultan also underlined the importance of FDPT in enhancing exports from this region and said that Faisalabad is contributing 55% share in total textile export of the country but the local exporters prefer other ports instead of utilizing this facility at their doorstep due to different reasons.

He said that new marketing policy would be carved out in consultation with the leading exporters so that the best facilities would be made available to them.