Karachi Port Trust has issued the following clarification about a news item published in Business Recorder issue of July 22, 2004.
"This is to inform you that a news item under the subject caption appeared in your reputable daily newspaper on 22nd Jul-04 was not based on facts. It is regretful to state that the statement of Mian Anjum Nisar of Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industries has mentioned in a number of newspapers about the 'Clearance Time' at Karachi Port is not only (not) correct but also does not conform to the port procedures. To start there is nothing like 'Port Clearance Time' which is disallowed by the Karachi Port. The time taken for clearance from the Port is dependent on manifold factors like readiness of documents clearance by customs, quality of service by shipping agent, stevedore, and clearing agent, all chosen by and working on behalf of the consignee, and last but not the least availability of funds with the consignee to pay all the dues on various accounts. The Port has no role to play in the time taken for clearance, and neither has the Port announced any 'Clearance Time' nor curtailed it at any time.
"The Port only allows what is called the 'Free Period' during which no storage charges are levied. The free period was standardised to seven days, one and a half-year back and was never fifteen days. Various free periods were given prior to this standardisation for different commodities ranging from one day to ten days.
This period was rationalised and brought at a reasonable level of seven days in consultation with none less than the President of Lahore Chambers of Commerce.
The period was fixed at seven days keeping in mind the volume of cargo, which is continuously on the increase, and the space available in the Port. Any further increase in the free period is going to cause congestion at the Port and create problems in smooth and safe handling of cargo. This was done some 18 months back and the system has run very smoothly without any problems."-PR