ISLAMABAD: The textile sector has sounded the alarm over what it describes as a rapidly deteriorating customs clearance regime, warning that systemic bottlenecks at ports are severely undermining export competitiveness and driving up the cost of doing business.
In a seven-page letter addressed to Dr Syed Tauqir Hussain Shah, adviser to the PM, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) called for immediate government intervention, cautioning that continued delays could inflict “irreversible damage” on the country’s largest export industry.
The textile and apparel sector accounts for roughly 60 per cent of Pakistan’s exports and employs more than 15 million workers. Industry leaders say its survival depends heavily on the timely import of raw materials such as cotton, polyester fibre, yarn, dyes and chemicals. However, clearance times for imported consignments have surged from the international benchmark of two to three days to an average of 10 days.
The crisis has its roots in a newly intensified scanning and examination regime under the WeBOC system. According to Aptma, a large proportion of containers are now being flagged for scanning, triggering a multi-step process that includes delayed scanning, mandatory physical examination, container grounding and reassessment.
Each step adds to the overall delay, with scanning alone reportedly taking three to four days after initial marking. The cumulative process, the association says, results in a minimum clearance cycle of 10 days -- far too long for industries operating on just-in-time production models.
Aptma has criticised the “indiscriminate” application of these checks, arguing that the lack of a risk-based approach penalises compliant importers and contradicts the country’s commitments under global trade facilitation frameworks.
Further compounding industry concerns is a proposed super auditor system, under which external auditors would participate in physical inspections alongside customs officials.While acknowledging the importance of accountability, Aptma has raised serious reservations about the plan, including questions over legal authority, transparency and the risk of conflicts of interest. The involvement of private auditors, it argues, could lead to additional delays and increase opportunities for rent-seeking.
Businesses report that even after goods are cleared, they remain exposed to post-clearance audits, adding to compliance burdens and uncertainty. “This layered enforcement environment is making it nearly impossible to plan production or meet delivery commitments,” an industry representative said.
The government’s “faceless assessment” initiative has also come under criticism for implementation gaps.Aptma members report arbitrary valuation adjustments, classification disputes and a lack of accountability, with decisions made remotely and without clear justification. Technical glitches in the WeBOC system are further exacerbating delays, with consignments reportedly stuck in processing for days.
Operational constraints at port terminals, particularly in Karachi, are adding another layer of difficulty. Containers marked for examination are often not grounded in time due to congestion and equipment shortages, delaying inspections while demurrage and detention charges continue to accrue.
Industry leaders argue that importers are unfairly bearing financial costs for delays beyond their control and have called for enforceable service-level agreements for terminal operators.
Delays are also being reported in obtaining mandatory clearances from the Plant Protection Department for natural fibre imports. Limited staff availability and sequential processing procedures mean that shipments can remain idle for days awaiting inspection.
The financial toll of these disruptions is mounting rapidly. Aptma estimates that the industry is losing millions of dollars each month due to demurrage charges, production stoppages and penalties imposed by international buyers.
In its letter, Aptma has urged the PM to constitute an emergency task force comprising representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, and the private sector.
The association has proposed a 30-day timeframe to identify and implement corrective measures, emphasising the need for coordinated reforms to restore efficiency and predictability in customs operations.“Every day of delay at our ports is a day Pakistan loses export orders, employment opportunities, and valuable foreign exchange,” the letter states.
