KARACHI: Directorate of General Transit Trade (DGTT) has urged all terminal authorities to allow waiver of demurrage on all containers lying at the port since 16.03.2020 till such time all containers have crossed border after resumption of trade activities at the Western border.
Likewise, the shipping companies/ association may like to waive the container detention charges which will accrue on the containers after stipulated period of free days.
The Directorate referred letter of even number dated 14.03.2020, regarding COVID-19 pandemic leading to complete sealing of Western border of Pakistan with Afghanistan and Iran with effect from 16.03.2020, at Chaman and Torkham causing halt of movement of forward transit containers destined for Afghanistan.
A number of requests have been received from the Afghan Traders, various associations and the Consulate General of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan-Karachi, informing about the mounting axe of demurrage and detention charges on containers stuck-up in Ports of Pakistan and the Customs Border Stations at Chaman and Torkham due to closure of Western border, with the request to intervene for looking in to the grievance of Afghan Traders and liaising with concerned authorities for finding out the way to waive off demurrage and detention charges.
This Directorate General, in order to gauge the magnitude of cost drew out data of containers which are stuck-up in Pakistan due to closure of Western Border. Following statistics contain details of containers lying at different ports since 16.03.2020.
