The ship agents came out with a hard-hitting response to the Karachi
Port Trust chairman’s announcement to go tough against the shipping companies
allegedly looting the local business community by overcharging.
In a statement, Pakistan Ship’s Agents
Association (PSAA) has not only rejected the KPT chief’s instructions about
shipping charges but also refused to accept it as a regulator of the shipping
industry according to Pakistan media reports.
“The KPT is a landlord port, not a regulator, therefore shipping
lines/agents are not bound to report to Karachi Port or subject to being
regulated by it” the PSAA stressed.
The relations of shipping companies with the Port administration got
bitter when the business community complained about the overcharging and KPT
Chairman Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi said the authority will go very tough against
the highhandedness of shipping companies.
According to a press release issued by
the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) issued on Jan 17, Mr Zaidi
said the shipping companies will be held accountable for allegedly looting the
business community by overcharging under various heads without any justification.
“The shipping companies need to submit details of their registration,
license, relevant laws or any agreements within 10 days which authorised them
to take excessively high charges,” said Mr Zaidi.
However, the PSAA said the shipping lines/agents operating in Pakistan
are duly licensed by Pakistan Customs and charge their customers as per their
respective tariffs which are easily available online.
“Any outward remittance from Pakistan is checked and authorised by the
State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), hence it is the appropriate regulator in this
regard, not the KPT,” said the statement issued by PSAA..
Shipping companies have been charging heavily since the outbreak of
the pandemic in 2019, which initially blocked or drastically reduced trade
activities through sea worldwide
While meeting the business community at KCCI, Mr Zaidi asked the
shipping companies who has permitted them to charge such hefty freight charges,
rentals, and delivery order charges. He
said the KPT is the right authority from whom businessmen in distress could
seek assistance in dealing with shipping companies and we’ll make sure that
no injustice is being done.
“Pakistan’s trade is wholly dependent on foreign shipping lines hence
the kind of allegations and irresponsible statements levelled by KCCI and
unduly supported by the KPT impact foreign shipping lines’ interest to operate
in Pakistan thereby jeopardizing Pakistan’s trade and further cementing the
country’s reputation as an unfriendly destination for foreign businesses,” said
the statement issued by the PSAA.