RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Chaudhry Jaffer Iqbal said on Monday that ports charges will be reviewed and reduced besides removing disparity in the company’s port charges.

He was talking to the LCCI office-bearers President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

He accepted that lack of professionalism exists at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and a lot of improvement is required. He said that situation at Port Qasim is far better but initiatives for improvement are well on the way. He said that issue of mishandling of consignment at Karachi Port will be addressed at the earliest. He informed the participants that second terminal of LNG will be in working condition in this month.

The State Minister said that he would attach priority to promotion of business and redress of business community’s genuine problems. “I will act as facilitator to the business community as no country can move forward without their due role,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI President Abdul Basit pointed out that ports charges are adding to the cost of doing business as these are 14 percent high from Dubai Port, 8 percent from Singapore and even higher than the Indian ports.

There is also difference in company-to-company shipping charges that is creating problems. He suggested that container tariffs for all companies should be equal while code of ethics should also be same for shipping lines. A number of LCCI members have complained that their consignments are being mishandled at Karachi Port by the concerned authorities. He said that careless attitude is causing huge financial loss to the exporters as buyers refused consignments because of torn packing or bad condition of merchandise. He said that modern scanners should be installed to avert such losses.

Abdul Basit said that business community has to pay demurrage charges because of sluggish process at dry ports release. This process should be expedited and at least seven days should be given to the business community in this regard. He said that official and private or commercial vessels should be treated equally for berthing at port.

He also called for implementation of container security system. The shipping companies should also be directed to reimburse deposited security at the earliest as delay of two-three months causes lack of working capital, he added.