THE EDITOR KARACHI

The various Chambers and Associations routinely invite Ministers, government functionaries, and local and foreign experts as guests. These meetings are held to solve problems, present the host organization’s problems, or even to have a public relations program. At times, the business Associations and Chambers have Seminars and Conferences on various subjects.

With the advent of the latest budget with its various ramifications, especially the back-breaking impact of the so-called GST, it is going to be a tall order to fulfill all requirements and to get the process of documentation of the economy going on in full stream. The top business leaders and the fiscal experts have not yet gotten the grasp of the effects of the budget.

There is going to be a widespread decline in industrial activity if the present budget is allowed to be implemented as proposed by the Finance Minister. There is this probability that quite a few industrialists may switch over to trading and speculative ventures. The smugglers, sales tax evaders, and under-invoicers, will have a field day at the expense of genuine industrialists.

It is, therefore, suggested to the FPCCI, KCCI, SITE Association of Industry, etc., that they should now change the format of their Guest Speakers Program and invite a completely new breed of speakers. The FPCCI, being the apex body, should immediately organize a seminar on "How to do smuggling".The keynote speaker could be a renowned smuggler. The services of Ahmed Mukhtar can be taken in locating a top smuggler. A couple of months ago, he had proclaimed that he personally knew the names of atleast FIVE smugglers who were making over a billion rupees per month thru the Afghan Transit Trade.

The FPCCI should also invite the concerned Collector of Customs who can give a detailed briefing on how to circumvent the various rules and laws of Customs with special emphasis on making

smuggling easy and profitable. A professional courier or "khepia" could be the next speaker. These couriers have played a determined role in influencing the inflow of smuggled goods in the country.

The business community can learn a lot from these " khepias". The FPCCI should also invite some well-known retailer who knowingly sells imported smuggled goods. He is an important part of the " foreign-ka-mal" syndrome.

The FPCCI should also set up an Information Cell in its premises to guide the Pakistani businessmen who would like to enter the field of smuggling. This will be another yeoman service provided by the apex body. The high point will be when a known smuggler is eventually elected President of FPCCI in the not too distant future.

The Government should also be advised to renegotiate the Afghan Transit Trade pact with the friendly and brotherly country next door. The government should strive to give more concessions under the Scheme so that the smugglers get maximum benefits and more and more people get involved in this scheme.

The businessmen should enter into joint ventures with the professional smugglers, and find better and more beneficial ways to carry on the profession of smuggling. Of course, the FPCCI should initiate the "Smuggler of the Year" award from its platform to encourage this field.

The best part will be next year at budget time. The FPCCI should go on strike if the Sales Tax is NOT increased to 25 % ad valorem and if custom duties are NOT increased by 100 %. After all, if the majority of industrialists and businessmen would have adopted the noble profession of smuggling, they do not want any reduction in custom duties, excise duties, sales tax, cesses, etc which might be detrimental to the proliferation of smuggling.

Yours etc: