Importers have called for the constitution of a multi-stakeholders advisory and regulatory committee in order to resolve port and shipping issues, saying shipping companies are not cooperating with traders and Customs officials, thus creating problems for the shippers, especially in the challenging times under Covid-19.
“Efforts made by the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) and Customs to facilitate trade have not brought targeted results due to weak contribution and participation by other stakeholders, particularly shipping companies and terminal operators,” said FPCCI President Mian Anjum Nisar.
Chairing a meeting to discuss issues related to port and shipping in Pakistan, Nisar stated that the government must maintain a strong writ to regulate shipping companies and terminal operators in an effort to support the already suffering trade and industry.
Speaking on the occasion, FPCCI Vice President Khurram Ijaz said, “The business community has been suffering due to uncooperative behaviour of shipping lines and private terminal operators since decades, however, the recent lockdown in the country made it impossible for the traders to survive in such an unsupported regime.”
“These shipping lines offer maximum facilitation and cooperation to public and private sectors in our neighbouring countries like India, however, the same is not offered in Pakistan,” he lamented.
Ijaz emphasised the need for a long-term solution to such issues and demanded that the authorities design a multi-stakeholder mechanism based on international best practices to streamline the process for traders.
He called for setting up a joint regulatory and advisory committee comprising representatives of Customs, shipping lines, terminal operators and all stakeholders to resolve the issues amicably.
Chief Collector Enforcement Karachi Saifuddin Junejo assured businessmen that Pakistan Customs was always available to serve them.
Discussing the role of Customs as the regulator of shipping lines, he stated that the Customs had recently cancelled the licence of a few shipping lines following complaints received from traders and were currently in court for the settlement of such matters.
He invited the FPCCI to be a party with the FBR as an intervener in legal cases in which shipping lines had taken stay orders against relevant amendments to the Finance Bill.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 22nd, 2020.
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