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Tag: KCCI

  • Karachi Chamber urges shipping lines to waive detention charges

    Karachi Chamber urges shipping lines to waive detention charges

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged shipping lines to waive detention and other charges considering extraordinary situation due to coronavirus and lockdown.

    To support the consignees in Pakistan during the ongoing difficult times, President KCCI Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan urged all shipping lines and their agents in Pakistan to give total waiver of detention charges and any penalties or charges under other heads on all consignments that landed from March 10, 2020 up to May 31. 2020.

    In separate letters sent to All Pakistan Shipping Association and Pakistan Ships’ Agents Association, President KCCI pointed out that in the present extra-ordinary circumstances, the shipping lines and agents have a moral and ethical responsibility to extend relief to the consignees and waive the entire detention charges and any other penalties or charges on FCL and LCL consignments, to facilitate clearance and delivery of cargo to the consignees.

    “It is important to mention that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and KPT have also approved the waiver of port demurrage and allowed additional 10 days of free storage for the imported cargoes. But unfortunately due to accumulated detention charges importers are unable to clear their containers,” he added.

    He said that due to the lockdown during the months of March and April 2020 imposed by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic, many importers have not been able to clear the import cargoes within the stipulated free detention period allowed.

    Consequently, very large amounts of detention charges and penalties have accumulated which the consignees are unable to pay, while also a large number of containers have piled up at the ports.

    He informed that during the last few weeks, KCCI received a large number of representations from trade and industry which are facing heavy losses due to the exorbitant container detention charges by including shipping agents and representatives of shipping lines.

    The losses are over and above those caused by a sharp decline in prices of various commodities and products which have been imported by these consignees, thus making it impossible to pay for the heavy detention and other penal charges demanded by the shipping agents and their principals.

    Many such entities have been pushed to a situation of Force Majeure.

    Agha Shahab further noted with deep concern that the same shipping lines have voluntarily extended concessions and relief to their clients in India while they have refused to allow any concession to consignees based in Pakistan.

    He was of the opinion that Pakistan’s shipping trade has been a lucrative source of income for shipping lines who have earned decent profits from this market for many years.

    “It is time they support the consignees in a situation where the entire global economy is passing through an unprecedented crisis and all business entities in Pakistan are incurring heavy losses as a consequence of extra-ordinary circumstances,” he stressed.

  • Karachi Chamber demands ease in lockdown, resuming trade activities

    Karachi Chamber demands ease in lockdown, resuming trade activities

    KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the government to ease the ongoing lockdown and allow the resumption of trade activities.

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  • KCCI demands policy rate at 4 percent

    KCCI demands policy rate at 4 percent

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Wednesday demanded the central bank to reduce policy rate to 4 percent instead easing in bits and pieces.

    KCCI President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan in a statement urged the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) to bring down the policy rate from 9.0 percent to 4.0 percent in view of the extra-ordinary circumstances and a global scale economic crisis, which is certain to have a long term negative impact on Pakistan’s economy.

    In a letter sent to Governor SBP Dr. Reza Baqir, President KCCI stressed that reduction in policy rate in bits and pieces is not enough to provide the much needed stimulus to the economy hence, it is necessary to significantly reduce the interest rate in a single step, to help the businesses sail through the unprecedented crisis.

    He was of the opinion that there is now ample justification for reduction in policy rate because the inflation rate has declined sharply due to a steep fall in prices of crude oil, commodities and raw materials, while the demand has also been suppressed.

    President KCCI appreciated the measures taken by SBP to support the industry and exporters to meet the challenges and financial crunch faced by them due to prolonged lockdowns to prevent the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus.

    While acknowledging the interest rates of 4 percent and 5 percent for filers and non-filers respectively in the package, he suggested that in view of the special circumstances, the rate of interest should be zero to support the economy and sustain the industries at least for the next one year.

    He however stressed that there is a dire need to announce a Rescue Package for Micro level Enterprises and SMEs which contribute around 40 percent to GDP.

    He pointed out that unfortunately, no relief has so far been announced for Micro enterprises and SMEs, which are under much greater financial stress then the large scale businesses and their survival is at stake.

  • Tax relief package to mitigate COVID-19 shocks under consideration, FBR tells KCCI

    Tax relief package to mitigate COVID-19 shocks under consideration, FBR tells KCCI

    KARACHI: A top official of Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has informed the office bearers of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) that a tax relief package for business community was under consideration in order to dilute the adverse impact of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).

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  • Karachi Chamber advocates unregistered transactions

    Karachi Chamber advocates unregistered transactions

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) reiterated demand for eliminating condition of Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) and allow unregistered persons to make purchases freely.

    KCCI President Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan in a statement on Monday urged the government to immediately waive CNIC requirement for sales to unregistered persons and three percent further tax in order to revive the economic activities and business transactions.

    In a letter sent to PM’s Advisor on Finance & Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, President KCCI said that waiver of CNIC condition and 3 percent Further Tax would result in release of major stockpiles of commodities and consumer goods into the markets and revenue collection will improve through liberalization of transactions.

    “Small and Medium Industry will also benefit as a result of such measure because a very large volume of raw materials is supplied to SMEs by commercial importers who are stuck with inventories. In order to stimulate the economy, an across the board relief is required rather than selective assistance to already favored sectors,” he added.

    President KCCI pointed out that in the Finance Act 2019, an amendment was made to Section 8 (Sub-Sec.1, Clause M) of Sales Tax Act, by addition of 10th Schedule, whereby it is mandatory to provide CNIC number of unregistered buyers in the invoice and Sales Tax Returns in addition to payment of 3 percent Further Tax. Similar statute has been added U/S.19A of Federal Excise Act, Sec.216A to Income Tax Ordinance and Sec.156A of Customs Act.

    He noted that since the number of registered persons in Sales Tax regime stood hardly at around 45,000 all over Pakistan, it is not possible for suppliers/ sellers and manufacturers to provide the CNIC of buyers on account of all their sales. This condition has resulted in a slowdown of business transactions and proliferation of cash economy.

    Agha Shahab said that the situation has further aggravated due to country-wide lockdown and disruption in supply chain due to the outbreak of coronavirus.  Consequently, stocks and inventories with importers, manufacturers and wholesalers are accumulating while recoveries from markets have completely stopped and a large number of bank defaults are likely to take place due to liquidity crunch.

    Unfortunately, while giving major relief to export sectors which hardly contributes 5 to 6 percent to GDP, the government has entirely ignored the larger sectors of industry and trade catering to domestic markets and contributing 94 percent to GDP and major part of tax revenue, he said, adding that it will prove to be detrimental for revenue collection by the FBR if the business transactions remain stalled while the government would surely miss the revenue targets and incur larger fiscal deficit as a result of imposition of CNIC provisions and 3 percent further tax.

    “Hence, as a relief measure, the requirement of CNIC for sales to unregistered persons and 3 percent Further Tax has to be waived immediately in order to revive the economic activities and business transactions”, Agha Shahab stressed.

  • Tax incentives for all sectors demanded; letter sent to PM

    Tax incentives for all sectors demanded; letter sent to PM

    KARACHI: Business community has urged the government to grant tax relief package for all sectors of the economy in order to dilute the adverse effect of coronavirus.

    Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan, President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) while emphasizing the need to consider out of the box solutions, urged the government to formulate an across-the-board incentive package encompassing all the sectors of trade and industry in order to stimulate the economy so as to minimize the impact of global recession and prevent massive unemployment in Pakistan.

    In a letter sent to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Agha Shahab gave numerous recommendations for the proposed across-the-board incentive package in which General Sales Tax (GST) rates should be reduced from 17 percent to 9 percent while Withholding Tax (WHT) on all supplies by manufacturers and traders must also be brought down from the current 4.5 percent to 2 percent and the anomaly in WHT rates on import of raw materials by industry and commercial importers has to be removed and a uniform rate of withholding tax should be applicable on both to support the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    He said that most importantly the discretionary powers under Section 140 of Income Tax Ordinance to access the bank accounts of registered persons be withdrawn, in order to restore confidence of investors and encourage transactions through banking system.

    He recommended that the policy rate has to be reduced to 7 percent in line with other countries to stimulate the economy whereas the deferred import bills which are due for payment through banks should be refinanced at 5 percent mark-up.

    President KCCI also recommended no questions should be asked for all investments in capital goods, raw materials, premises, acquisition of land and building for industry and trade up to June 30, 2022.

    He noted that many other countries have taken initiatives to support their economies and announced incentive packages worth trillions of dollars to bail out the businesses which are going to suffer due to o recession triggered by COVID-19 pandemic.

    “Even the Bangladeshi government has announced an across the board relief package of $8.6 billion which includes significant support to SMEs.”

    He pointed out that the black economy in Pakistan is twice the size of documented economy and due to the present coercive tax regime and laws, a very large amount of capital is blocked in idle investments.

    In view of the prevailing global economic crisis and its negative impact on Pakistan, it is essential to release the blocked capital and encourage investments into productive economic activities such as industry and trade.

    Appreciating the Special Incentive Package for Construction Industry, President KCCI, however, said that the benefits of concessions granted to one or two specific sectors will neither reach the majority of trade and industry nor provide relief to common man.

    In the present extra-ordinary circumstances, it is necessary to provide across the board incentive package for investment in all sectors of trade and industry, and the SMEs which have a major contribution to GDP and Tax revenues, he added.

    It is a critical and challenging time for the country and its economy, therefore the government has to remove the bureaucratic shackles and handicaps created by a very complex tax system, to unleash the entrepreneurial capacity of business community.

  • Karachi Chamber flays detaining industrialists

    Karachi Chamber flays detaining industrialists

    KARACHI: Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has criticized arrest of industrialists especially textile mills owners for engagement in production activities during lockdown.

    Agha Shahab, President, KCCI, expressed concerns over the arrest/ detention of owner a textile mill, stated that it was not a wise move to arrest anyone or raid industries but any violation of government’s order should be brought to KCCI’s and relevant industrial zone association’s notice so that the same could be amicably resolved through negotiations.

    “The government should refrain from exacerbating their problems and finalize the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) at the earliest so that the industries could accordingly adopt precautionary measures,” President KCCI added in a statement issued.

    While referring to Chief Minister Sindh’s recent meeting with representatives of the business and industrial community on April 4, 2020, President KCCI said that Chief Minister afterwards formed a committee which was tasked to outline the SOPs for industries but so far no response was received.

    He stressed that export oriented industries should be allowed to operate on a condition that they will ensure compliance of precautionary measures including social distancing, use of masks, gloves and sanitizers to disinfect the coronavirus.

    He hoped that the Sindh government would take serious notice of the situation and order the Committee to notify SOPs to industries at the earliest while the labor department should only be authorized to vigilantly supervise all the industrial activities.

    The government will have to act really fast in this regard with a view to save the industries as prolonged closure of the industrial units is going to be really detrimental and disastrous for the entire economy, he added.

  • Business community demands cut in tax rates to half for three months

    Business community demands cut in tax rates to half for three months

    KARACHI: Business community has demanded the government of reducing tax rates to half for at least three months in order to provide relief to industry and dilute impact of coronavirus.

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  • FBR extends time limit to 25 days for GD filing

    FBR extends time limit to 25 days for GD filing

    KARACHI: Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) on Monday extended time limit for filing goods declaration to facilitate traders and importers, who were facing difficulties due to lockdown.

    The FBR extended the time limit for filing of goods declaration from the existing 10 days of arrival of goods to further 15 days (total 25 days) for all Import General Manifest (IGMs) filed between March 17, 2020 and April 07, 2020.

    The FBR said that the customs collectorates across the country were operating normally, however, on account of the ongoing lockdown by provincial governments to address the prevailing pandemic of COVID-19, the importers and clearing agents were facing hardship in filing of goods declaration within the time limit prescribed under Customs Act, 1969.

    The consequent penalty on this account is causing undue hardship to the traders as the circumstances for late filing, which was beyond their control.

    The FBR said that it had received requests from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for extension in the time limit for filing of goods declaration.

  • Business community welcomes PM relief package

    Business community welcomes PM relief package

    KARACHI: Business community has welcomed the relief package of around Rs1.2 trillion announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan to ward off the negative impact of coronavirus.

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