The shipping lines have agreed to withdraw Port Congestion Surcharge with immediate effect. According to a press release issued by Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) intimated that shipping lines have planned to impose Port Congestion Surcharge on import consignments arriving at Karachi Port''s private terminals (KICT and PICT).
To review the ground realities a meeting was convened at KPT Head Office yesterday involving all stakeholders to include; Shipping Lines, Customs, Shipping Association and other relevant agencies, wherein it was ratified that presently there is no congestion at Karachi Port and its terminals, ie KICT and PICT.
The port users and shipping lines conceded to the justification put forwarded by KPT officials and showed their complete satisfaction to the fact that KPT has enough space to accommodate their containers in case of any overflow. Consequently, it was unanimously resolved that Port Congestion Surcharge will be withdrawn by the shipping lines immediately. It was also agreed to hold such co-ordination meetings involving shipping lines and terminal operators more frequently to obviate occurrence of such issues in future.-PR