The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has suggested that a shipping supervisory council for the strict compliance of rules and regulation be formed in the ministry of port and shipping.
In a communication to the ministry of commerce the chamber proposed that the supervisory council should have representatives of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Custom, Karachi Port Trust and Port Qasim, KCCI, Pakistan Readymade Garments Association and Pakistan Hosiery Manufactures Association, Pakistan Bed Wear Manufactures Association and Towel Manufactures Association.
Regarding issuance of two bill of lading of one shipment, the chamber noted that gross misuse of SPB circular No 23 dated February 19,1992 has been reported due to which exporters have been suffering huge losses
To resolve the issue of two bills of lading the chamber suggested that one full set of original bill of lading be issued for each respective export shipment and the directly delivered to the exporters on submission of authority letter from the authorised exchange dealer, as per chapter X11 Rule 11 of SBP.
The chamber demanded that circular 23 dated February 19,1992 be withdrawn. The chamber further proposed that audit of all bill of lading for shipments going out of Pakistan be done by customs, DG Ports and Shipping so to check that the SBP rule 11 are being followed.
To safeguard the small exporters the chamber recommended that consolidated arrangement be done only by the license stevedores and or custom license clearing forwarding agents under a custom license bond and also carrier bill of lading be issued to the exporters as chapter Xll rule ll of foreign exchange act of SBP and freight payment/ charges may directly to the license agents of the carrier / shipping line. The chamber further suggested that freight forwarders role be defined in consultation with the exporters stakeholders.