Senate body asks Commerce Ministry to release 55 ammunition shipments from port

September 28, 2018 (MLN): The Senate Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile Industry in its meeting has recommended to the Ministry of Commerce to take due measures to clear 55 arm and ammunition shipments lying with the Custom authorities at the port, in favour of the importers.

During the Committee meeting that took place yesterday at the Parliament, the Commerce Ministry was directed to respond to this recommendation positively.

The Committee further asked the petitioners to take up the matter in light of the Committee’s recommendations in Islamabad High Court Order at the earliest if the ministry failed to implement these recommendations.

Secretary Commerce told the Committee that the import policy allowing arms and ammunition expired in 2015 and all parties were given a time period of two years to get done with all their contracts and these shipments reached after the expiry.

The Committee, however, was of the view that if a compensation was given to some importers back in 2015, then a one-time relief can be given to these 55 shipments also with a caveat that it will not happen again.

The members of the Committee called for promoting documented arms and ammunition industry and facilitating them within the ambit of law so that smuggling can be reduced.

The Committee was also given brief overview of the new Strategic Trade Policy Framework and new policy initiatives relating to tariffs, trade and investments for the next five years.

It may be noted that after elevation to the office of Leader of the House in the Senate, this was the last meeting conducted by Senator Shibli Faraz as its chairman.

Among others, Senators Nauman Wazir Khattak and Nuzhat Sadiq, Secretary Commerce also attended the meeting

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