KARACHI: Collectorate of Customs Enforcement Deputy Collector Licensing Mahmood-ur-Rehman Khattak has issued guidelines regarding entry of empty containers into terminals electronically and filing of PIA.
According to the details, Collectorate of Customs Enforcement received several complaints from the transporters that the shipping lines had not been filing PIA in time resulting in several problems.
Since, PIA was not filed, the terminals did not allow entry of empty containers into the port resulting in congestion at the port gates for several hours, blockage of roads and charges of additional detention costs of upto $150 a day to the transporters. This bottleneck was also breaking the entire logistical cycle.
The matter was taken up by the Collectorate and meeting were held in the presence of all stake holders to arrive at a solution. In the light of the discussions held in the afore-mentioned meetings, the following decisions have been taken;
- The clearing agent/importer shall intimate the category of the GD i.e. TP, IB, ST, HC etc to the shipping line at the time of the issue of Delivery Order (D.O.) for proper allocation of space for the off loading of empty containers.
- Shipping Agencies shall immediately file the PIA as Terminal Operators also communicate information about the gate out status of the containers.
- The shipping lines shall offload those empty containers at their off dock terminals for which PIA has not been filed.
- The off dock termianls shall work around the lock 24/7/365 to facilitate the traders and transporters.
- Shipping agencies shall check the availability of the containers on the online facility available on WeBOC portal to immediately file PIA.
