DLP Report
PESHAWAR
A delegation of the Frontier Customs Agents Association (FCAA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by its President Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi (Sitara-i-Imtiaz), called on the newly appointed Collector Customs (Appraisement), Model Customs Collectorate Peshawar, Ziaullah Shams, and urged immediate measures to revive trade by addressing border closures, customs clearance delays and taxation issues.
The delegation, which included FCAA General Secretary Mian Waheed Bacha, Executive Member Arshad Khan and other office-bearers, congratulated Ziaullah Shams on his appointment and expressed confidence in his leadership. Sarhadi said the business community had welcomed his appointment, noting that he had previously served as Collector Customs (Enforcement), Additional Collector and Deputy Collector at Customs House Peshawar.
During the meeting, the delegation highlighted the severe impact of the prolonged closure of the Torkham border and other crossing points over the past 10 months, describing Torkham as the “jugular vein” of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s economy.
They said the closures had brought trade and industrial activity in the province to a standstill, leaving customs clearing agents, border agents, importers, exporters, transporters, labourers and other stakeholders unemployed while causing financial losses worth billions of rupees to businesses on both sides of the border.
The delegation also raised concerns over delays in customs clearance at Azakhel Dry Port and called for the adoption of an open-door policy to facilitate trade.
They further argued that the implementation of FATA/PATA taxes had forced many businesses to shut down and urged the federal government to consult chambers of commerce and the business community before introducing policies affecting trade.
Sarhadi, who is also Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) and a former Senior Vice President and Executive Committee member of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), proposed the launch of export cargo train services from Azakhel Dry Port to streamline the movement of commercial cargo from Karachi.
He also suggested that raw materials destined for industries in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, currently cleared in Karachi and transported by road, should instead be cleared at Azakhel Dry Port. He said the proposal would benefit Pakistan Railways through increased freight revenue while creating more business opportunities for customs clearing agents and workers in the province.
Later, the FCAA delegation held separate meetings with newly appointed Additional Collector (Appraisement) Dry Port Saeqa Abbas and Additional Collector Customs (Appraisement Headquarters) Najeeb Arjaman, where they discussed challenges faced by the business community and presented recommendations for improving customs operations.
Collector Customs Ziaullah Shams assured the delegation of his full cooperation, saying the issues raised would be addressed through consultation with stakeholders.
He said the recommendations submitted by the delegation would be given due consideration and implemented where feasible.
Sarhadi thanked the Collector for his positive response and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to extending full cooperation in resolving issues affecting trade and customs operations in the province.
