FPCCI underscores need for expansion of seaports

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Sunday called for increased focus on development of ports to ensure success of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. "Better facilities at ports will ensure smooth flow of merchandise and stimulation of economic activities which will cut cost of exports and imports benefiting masses as well as business community" Abdul Rauf Alam, President FPCCI said.
He said this while talking to Federal Secretary Ports and Shipping Khalid Pervez. Vice President FPCCI Zafar Bakhtwari, Sajida Zulfiquar, group leader of ICCI Khalid Jaweed, UBG leader Karim Aziz Malik and others were also present on the occasion.
Alam said that demurrage time should be increased from one week to two weeks at all posts while detention time should be increased from fourteen days to twenty one days. This will improve the volume of maritime trade from current 73 million tonnes to 100 million tonnes as it remained the cheapest mode of transportation, he said. FPCCI is preparing proposals to boost maritime trade which would be presented to the ministry soon.
The FPCCI president said the Government should allocate extra resources for development of ports which are handling 90 per cent of the nation's external trade to unleash a new era of maritime commerce. Ports located near Pakistan can handle ten to twenty times more cargo Shanghai is on the top of 50 best container ports, Singapore in second while Pakistan is in the bottom. Pakistan stands at 32nd in Southeast Asia due to making it expansive for trade which should be taken seriously, he said.
On the occasion, Secretary Ports and Shipping Khalid Pervez said that government is doing its best to improve ports and that all the proposals of FPCCI would be considered. He said we realise that ports always play vital role in the economy of any country and now its role has become more important than ever. Ports are a capital intensive sector and require heavy financing to realise the development goals and today through availability of private sector investments, he said.