FAISALABAD: Government should stop M/s Maersk Pakistan Pvt Ltd and Qasim International Containers Terminal from taking extra demurrage and detention charges to clear legally imported consignments.
Advocate Mian Muhammad Imran associated with District Court Faisalabad told Customs Today in an interview that Maersk Pakistan and QICT violated SRO 1220 and section 14A of Customs Act 1969 by taking extra demurrage and detention charges other than collecting applied duty and taxes.
The clearance of imports and exports has become major headache for traders through QICT and M/s Maersk Pakistan due to blackmailing of these companies and demanding of detention and demurrage charges and still the government is not taking any action against them, he added.
Main Muhammad Imran further said that Karachi has been hub of trade and commerce activities and in order to encourage trading in Pakistan the security agencies and government ought to keep close eye on those who violate rules established to give safe passage to transport vehicles.
The Advocate further said that new technology needs to be utilised for satisfaction of importers during inquiry of their goods and duties applied on them. The government prime duty is to ensure the business community that their money and goods are in safe hands. If such actions would be allowed then business community will have to face further losses.
He demanded from Federal Board of Revenue Ministry of Port and Shipping, National Accountability Bureau and Federal Investigation Agency to take action against Maersk shipping line and QICT for taking extra demurrage and detention charges from importers.
