Pakistan Customs Agents Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Alleged Corruption

The Pakistan Customs Agents Association has issued a stark warning to suspend import and export clearance services across the country within 15 days, citing the alleged "illegal suspension" of 45 agents' licenses and allegations of corruption within the customs department.

In a letter to the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and major chambers across Pakistan, Association Chairman Saifullah Khan highlighted several grievances, including demands for bribes by customs appraisers and unprofessional behavior towards agents. He claimed that customs officials were directly contacting agents, demanding illegal payments for clearing cargo.

The Association has notified business chambers in key cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Hyderabad, as well as trade organizations such as APTMA and the Pakistan Chemical Dyes Merchants Association, urging them to seek alternative customs clearance solutions. If the suspension goes ahead, it could severely disrupt Pakistan’s international trade operations.

The Association has called for a thorough investigation into the suspended licenses and has urged trade bodies to step in, criticizing the customs officials' actions as unethical.

In response, Pakistan Customs has denied the allegations, accusing the agents of using “blackmail and pressure tactics” to avoid legal action. Officials confirmed that the licenses would only be reinstated if the agents were cleared of any wrongdoing