RAWALPINDI - The twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad Dry Port lacks modern technology as well as basic facilities causing problems for importers, exporters and customs clearing agents in clearing their shipments on daily basis. Installation of sophisticated cranes and lifters at dry port is essential to promote trade activities in Rawalpindi region. Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Acting President Imtiaz Chaudhry Friday said this while addressing a meeting of Standing Committee of the Chamber on Dry Port here on Friday. The Chairman of the Committee Jamshed Khan chaired the session. The meeting took review of the problems faced by importers, exporters and custom clearing agents at Rawalpindi/Islamabad Dry Port. On the occasion, Chairman Jamshed Khan said that obsolete rusted cranes and second hand machinery has been installed by Railways at Dry Port whereas it was mentioned in the contract that modern and state of art machinery would be installed. It is worth-mentioning here that the Karachi Port has the capacity of off- loading 1150 containers in just four hour but contrary to this, only 250 containers take almost 12 to 14 hours due to outdated machinery at Rawalpindi/Islamabad Dry Port he lamented. He demanded of the government that all the old machines including cranes and lifters should be replaced with state of art technology because in the past many accidents have been occurred causing heavy damages to the precious shipments. Rawalpindi/Islamabad Dry Port has not even the facility of fork-lifters for which the custom clearing agents have to pay additional amount of Rs 200 per packet under the head of rent of the lifter.He said that it was decided by Chairman FBR that equivalent rate of clearance fee would be charged at all dry ports of the country but here at Rawalpindi/Islamabad Dry Port, Customs officials receive much more amount than the scheduled rates from the custom clearing agents. The matter was brought to the notice of high ups but in vain, he told the meeting. Vice Chairman of the Committee Zahid Kazmi, while speaking, said He said it was the need of the hour to initiate a move for relocation of dry port at Chaklala Railway Station which was situated in the middle of twin cities so that the trade relating activities might be started here and importer and exporters from both cities might take advantage equally. He said that Customs Department kept no record of the labourers and loaders assigned on the job and this was the very reason that often costly items were misplaced during handling. To prevent the incidents of theft, there should be complete record of all the people working at dry port and secondly Customs Department should issue official identity cards to them. Inspite of opposition from high officers of Customs, the clearing agents have constructed a hall for their operation at dry port on self help basis. Now we need some furniture and photo copier and we demand Collector Customs to provide the items as good gesture, so that working relations may be strengthened between the agents and department he added. He said that with the endeavour of RCCI, dry port was established at Rawalpindi but later the government shifted it to Islamabad, which affected the imports and exports belonging not only to Rawalpindi, but also Attock, Jehlum and Chakwal.