20000412

KCCI urges govt

to settle claims

for goods gutted

in KPT fire

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to settle hundreds of claims of refund of duty and value of goods which were destroyed in a fire in the KPT Shed No. 13 a few years ago.

In a number of cases, the tax dues had been paid but goods could not be examined and in other cases delivery orders were filed with the KPT for the purpose of examination.

Nasir M Chandna, former Chairman of Customs and Ports Sub Committee of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said in a statement that unfortunately even after the lapse of several years the ashes of the destroyed goods were still lying in the gutted shed depriving the port of precious storage space.

"A huge amount of storage charges and rent the KPT would have earned, had this space been used for storage of new goods arriving at the port", he said, adding that it appeared that nobody was interested in getting the debris cleared and put the huge area to use by constructing a new shed or else allot the same for storage of containers.

Chandna appealed to the authorities concerned of Customs and the KPT to clarify the position and apprise the nation of the outcome of the 'Inquiry' carried out into the mishap and future course of action for the area of the port lying idle.