KARACHI: Senior Vice President of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, has claimed that sudden amendments to Green Channel parameters have caused severe congestion, leaving thousands of import-bound containers stuck and resulting in significant financial losses for the country’s business community.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, Sarhadi, who also serves as an executive member of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), said that while the decision benefits shipping companies and terminal operators financially, it is highly detrimental to importers.

He warned that the delay in clearing containers due to changes in Green Channel parameters could impact essential import consignments, including medical devices, pulses, medicines and food items.

Sarhadi further said that the unannounced modifications to the customs department’s Risk Management System (RMS) have drastically reduced the clearance rate through Green Channels, dropping from 47 per cent to 26 per cent . This decline has led to prolonged delays in the clearance of imported goods, he reiterated.

Previously, any changes to Green Channel parameters were made with prior announcements to inform the business community, he noted. Also, to prevent delays in consignment clearance, the number of staff was increased as needed.

Now, with such practices being disregarded, containers are being held up, causing financial losses for importers in the form of penalties and further weakening the economy, Sarhadi concluded.