KARACHI: President Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Salman Aslam has demanded to increase the dwell time of import and export of goods at Karachi Port Trust, and Port Qasim from 5 days to 10 days.
In a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan, the KATI president requested that before 2003 the government had allowed dwelling time for import and export goods up to 10 days, which was then reduced to 7 days without taking stakeholders onboard and then further, reduced the period to five days.
The move not only forces importers and exporters to pay hefty demurrages and also causes severe financial losses. Salman Aslam said in the letter that in the current situation cargo and shipping costs have increased manifold and permission to keep containers for only 5 days is very low. He said this permission is valid for 15 days at Gwadar port.
However, importers are unable to take timely action in such a short period of time and suffer not only financial loss but also mental anguish. The losses (both actual & consequential) amount to billions of rupees per year.
Salman Aslam drew the attention of the prime minister to the fact that there is extreme shortage of space at Karachi Port Trust which is another hurdle - resulting in extra costs in cargo movements. Shortage of space at KPT is highly disturbing since KPT is the biggest land owner in Karachi City.
It is a matter of record that most of these costly lands / premises have been occupied on weak stay orders by so-called influential people OR the land mafia since the last many years. Up to 300 or so acres of land adjacent to the east wharf (timber pond) area of KPT can easily be recovered by taking immediate legal actions.
If this land can be brought into the Karachi Port bonded area, there will be huge benefits for the Pakistani exporters and importers. Salman Aslam also suggested that this issue should be brought to the notice of the honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan for immediate remedy.
The KATI president appealed to the Prime Minister Imran Khan to allow the import and export of goods for 10 days at the ports in the wider interest of the country’s trade.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022
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