Daily Times

KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has resolved the unjustified “port congestion surcharge” by foreign shipping companies operating at Karachi Port.

Foreign flag ships unilaterally bring upper bracket change in the surcharge but the issue has been resolved now.

Officials told Daily Times that the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries already intimated the sectors concerned in this regard.

Foreign shipping lines were in process to impose port congestion surcharge on import consignments arriving at Karachi Port’s two private terminals, Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT).

To review the ground realities, a meeting was convened at KPT head office involving all stakeholders, Shipping Lines, Pakistan Customs and Shipping Association. The meeting approved that presently there is no congestion at Karachi Port and its terminals, 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Consequently, it was unanimously resolved that the port congestion surcharge will be withdrawn by the shipping lines immediately.

It was also agreed to coordinate to prevent such issues in the future.