KARACHI: The President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, has reiterated the Chamber’s firm stance against smuggling, while simultaneously calling for the protection of genuine businesses affected during anti-smuggling operations.
Speaking to media representatives, Bilwani said, “The Karachi Chamber is unequivocally against smuggling in all its forms, as it causes severe damage to Pakistans economy, undermines honest businesses, and erodes the governments revenue base.” He emphasized that while KCCI fully supports the legal crackdown on smuggling, care must be taken not to penalize legitimate traders.
Bilwani raised concerns over instances where law enforcement agencies have allegedly confiscated goods that were legally imported, purchased locally, or acquired through official auctions. He stated that such actions result in irreparable financial losses, disruption of business operations, and serious damage to the reputation of law-abiding entrepreneurs.
Rather than conducting aggressive raids in commercial markets that can create law and order issues, Bilwani urged authorities to strengthen monitoring and interception efforts at entry points such as borders, seaports, and airports. The focus should be on stopping smuggled goods at their origin, not in markets where legal and illegal goods may be indistinguishable without proper verification, he said.
He further stressed the need for strict implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure that genuine traders are not wrongfully targeted. Bilwani proposed that in rare cases where nighttime raids are unavoidable, premises should not be forcibly emptied. Instead, authorities should seal the location and resume proceedings the next morning in the presence of the business owner or their authorized representative.
Reaffirming KCCIs commitment to eradicating smuggling, Bilwani said the Chamber stands ready to fully cooperate with the Customs Enforcement Department. At the same time, he added, we will continue to protect the interests of law-abiding businesses to ensure lawful trade thrives in a secure and fair environment.
