Peshawar    -    The federal government is likely to temporarily relax ban on shipments that have already arrived at Karachi Port before the decision to put ban on import of certain luxury and non-essential items.

In this regard, Federal Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar gave assurance to a delegation of the businessmen from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Hasnain Khurshid, in Islamabad, said a press release issued here on Friday. It is to mention that the government had imposed ban on import of certain luxury and non-essential items on May 19, last month.

According to the statement, a formal announcement is likely to be made by the government regarding lifting of ban on shipments of imported items, already arrived at Karachi Port before the issuance of the notification.

A three-point agenda was discussed in the meeting with the minister including imposition of ban on import items at Karachi Port that had already arrived before May 19, and collection of infrastructure Cess by Sindh government and hurdles in way of Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade.

The federal minister assured to take up the issue with Sindh government and resolve it amicably.

The SCCI delegation urged the federal government to also take pragmatic steps to remove hurdles in the way of Pak-Afghan bilateral trade and transit trade that would help boost the local economy and create more employment opportunities in the country.