LAHORE: Following Customs Today ran a story under the heading ‘COVID-19: Govt, FBR urged to force shipping lines to extend free time period, ”Pakistan International Container Terminal Limited (PICT) has extended Demurrage Free Period from existing five days to ten days on import containers of vessels arrived between 20-March 2020 to 6th April 2020.
Friends of Economics and Business Reforms (FEBR) president Kashif Anwar urged the government to take up the issue of demurrages and detention on priority basis to facilitate the business community in the wake of pandemic COVID-19 which have played havoc with the trade and industry all across the globe.
In response to that demand one of the companies considering it a genuine concern of the commercial and industrial importers has extended Import Demurrage Free Period at Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT).
The company said that the global COVID-19 pandemic poses various mammoth challenges to global as well as national economy.
“Being a responsible corporate citizen PICT remains committed to the alleviation of adverse impact of this global pandemic on our nation through offering every possible relief.” The PICT said, adding that earlier, PICT waived all its charges on import container pertaining to hand sanitizers, surgical gloves, protective masks and COVID testing kits.
The company further added that in addition, PICT in order to further support the trade due to lock down and logistics challenges has extended Demurrage Free Period from existing five days to ten days on import containers of vessels arrived between 20th -March 2020 to 6th April 2020.
The above facilitation will help the importers to move their consignments from the port without attracting additional demurrages during the above mentioned period.
COVID-19 is a national crisis and PICT is responding to it by supporting the Government’s priority of sustaining the logistics and trade cycle of Pakistan, the company further added.
However, the business community appreciating the extension in days by PICT urged the other companies to follow suit in the best national interests.
