LAHORE: Worldwide shipping companies including Sefmarrien, APL, Cosco, OOCL and others are charging $8 to $10 per day detention and demurrage after free day but in Pakistan these companies are charging over $80-100 per day and no one is there to question them. Illegal demurrage and detention charges are taken by the shipping lines including M/s Maersk Pakistan Pvt and M/s QICT, he said, adding that these shipping lines have no set criterion and worst is that the Customs Department and the government are never interested in regulating the shipping lines.
These views were expressed by LCCI customs affairs standing committee convener Muhammad Arshad Bhatti while talking to Customs Today here the other day.
He said that these companies are major impediment to smooth business activities by adding to the un-called per unit cost of the products in the name of detention & demurrage charges. He also talked about the hurdles created by a few Customs officials who for the sake of minting money illegally obstruct and delay the clearance of the import consignments. The Customs ASO and Customs I&I should be stopped from this illegal practice and they should only focus on their job of eradicating the menace of smuggling, he stated.
He said that the government and the NAB should take action against Maersk Pakistan and QICT for demanding illegal demurrage and detention charges from genuine importers. The government should also take action against those customs officials who support these companies for the sake of minting money.
He urged the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman to take steps to streamline the affairs of the shipping lines and customs Dept to facilitate the business community.
