KARACHI: Delay in the examination process of imported consignments at Qasim International Containers’ Terminal (QICT) has hampered the trade activities as well as increases the woes of importers and clearing agents.
The importers are of the view that the apathy of terminal staff and non-cooperative behavior of customs authorities at MCC-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim are the factors which are affecting the entire examination process at QICT.
One of the importers while sharing his view points with Customs Today said that the customs authorities concerned are not allowing the importers’ representatives to enter the examination area which causing delay in examination.
He further said that the imported consignments were not being grounded for last four days, as the examination of the grounded containers were not being completed timely by the customs staff that causing compilation of the stuck-up consignment at QICT.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Additional Collector Examination of MCC-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim, Shaiq Latki has already claimed that the examination staff of the collectorate was examining the containers as per routine and no compilation of pending containers has been witnessed at QICT.
Another importer while sharing his views with Customs Today said that the terminal authorities were also responsible for the prevailing situation at the examination area of QICT, as the terminal did not have sufficient machinery including cranes to ground the containers on time.
On the other hand, sources confirmed Customs Today that almost 350 containers were pending in examination area at QICT which causing fiscal loss to the importers as they have to pay extra money in shape of demurrage and detention.
Sources further informed that MCC-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim has made attempts in order to streamline the examination process and the Additional Collector Examination visited QICT himself and reviewed the situation of grounding the containers.
They further said that the additional collector asked the terminal operators to run its cranes in order to ground the containers and subsequently by the efforts of the customs authorities, the terminal operator started to run its three cranes to ground the containers.
Responding to a query, the sources revealed that the pending containers at examination area would take three to four days to be cleared, as the authorities concerned of MCC-Port Muhammad Bin Qasim were utilizing all their available resources to complete the examination process of pending consignments.
