PESHAWAR: Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PAJCCI) senior vice-president Ziaul Haq Sarhadi has said that the sudden changes in the ‘Green Channel’ parameters have caused delays inclearance of import goods, inflicting huge financial losses on the business community. In a statement issued here on Friday, he said in case the delays in the clearance of consignments continued, the supply of medicines, including medical devices, steel, and pulses, would be badly affected. “This development has resulted in significant delays and inefficiency in the clearance of imports,” he lamented. Mr Sarhadi, who is also an executive member of Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the decision was providing monetary benefits to shipping companies and terminal operators, but was detrimental to importers. “Import consignments carrying medical devices, pulses, medicines, food items etc can be affected due to delay in clearance of containers that have been held after changes in Green Channel parameters were made,” Mr Sarhadi said. He said unannounced changes in Risk Management System (RMS) by the customs department had caused drastic reduction in clearance through green channels, dipping from 47 per cent to 26 per cent. “Such a plunge in clearance has caused delay in clearance of containers carrying import goods,” he said. The PAJCCI senior vice-president said earlier changes in Green Channel parameters were made after prior announcement for information of the business community.