The Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) is to pay heavy demurrage due to slow lifting of wheat being imported to eliminate grain shortage in the country, sources at Port Qasim revealed on Wednesday. Wheat discharged from a second ship of the total five ships has come under demurrage and the Port sources are taking steps to ensure that the demurrage is paid under the rule.
Sources said the berthing and discharging of wheat from ships arriving one after the other was on schedule but wheat lifting from the Port by the provincial governments of the Sindh and Balochistan was slow due to the shortage of trucks especially during the holy month of Ramazan.
In view of the past, the TCP record of delay in payment of demurrage on the wheat export from the PQ a few years ago, the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has taken necessary steps to ensure that its dues on account of demurrage and wharfage were paid.
The payment of demurrage may be in danger due to the dispute between the TCP and provincial governments responsible for lifting wheat as to who will pay the demurrage.
The PQA warned all concerned that dispatch of wheat outside the Port would not be allowed if an undertaking for payment of demurrage was not provided by the parties involved in wheat import.
Sources said the Port was already allowing seven working days free of demurrage, plus more concessional time after 50 percent wheat was discharged from a ship on time, adding in all the importer got 12 to 13 demurrage free days.
It may be pointed out the TCP failed to pay huge demurrage bill accumulated due to the wheat export allowed by the government from the PQ a few years ago.
The colossal demurrage had accumulated despite the fact that the extra demurrage days were granted to the TCP to help boost country's wheat export.