KARACHI – The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Pakistan and China is practically suspended due to the lack of renewal with the Pakistan Customs Authority (PCA) since 2009. The importers of chemicals and dyes have warned that an ‘inordinate’ delay by the customs authorities in clearing the imported consignments from China under FTA might inflict massive losses upon the country.
“Due to the lack of new signatures in the case of the agreement, the facility of FTA is suspended and consequently imported consignments are facing excessive delays in clearance,” Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA) Chairman Muhammad Haroon Agar informed the Chinese Commercial Counselor Wang Qihui, at Chinese Economic Commercial Section at the consulate.
Expressing concern over the holdup, Agar said the fact that the ministry of commerce had not acquired new signatures of Pak-China FTA since 2009 was forcing importers to sustain heavy losses while the cost of doing business in the country is also rising. “The customs authorities are delaying the clearance of consignment due to the unavailability of new signatures in respect of Pak-China FTA, and therefore importers fear colossal losses owing to delays,” he warned.
The merchant urged the ministry to ensure prompt clearance without delay of Pakistan-bound consignments at Chinese ports and demanded that immediate measures be taken to this effect. Observing that the two countries and their traders were facilitating each other in respect of the FTA, the PCDMA chief stated that the unwarranted delay in customs clearance was contrary to the spirit of the agreement.
He added that the FTA, which was meant to promote trade between the two friendly countries, was causing financial losses and increasing the cost of doing business in Pakistan. He also urged the Chinese commercial counselor to play a productive role and ensuring the timely exchange of signatures so that traders of both the countries could be facilitated as per the spirit of FTA.
Chinese Commercial Counsellor Wang Qihui assured the Pakistani traders of rapid contact with Chinese Commerce Ministry to resolve the issue. Wang also sought details of the problems being faced by Pakistani importers at Chinese ports and assured the delegation that the required effort would be completed.
He also suggested importers contact the Pakistani Commerce Ministry in this regard. Agar was accompanied by PCDMA Vice Chairman Shaikh Imran Saleem and PCDMA Secretary General Shakil Ahmed.
