KARACHI: The traders and importers have expressed concerns over filing of Import General Manifest (IGMs) by Shipping Lines and Port authorities, as the importers were paying hefty amount in form of demurrage and detention to the shipping lines due to alleged inefficiency of the authorities concerned.
The importers were of the view that the shipping lines were not filing proper IGMs on LCL and FCL cargo at ports which compel them to pay hefty amount as demurrage and also creating delay in clearing the consignments.
The Pakistan Customs authorities, while commenting on the above issue, stated that they have issued clear directives to the shipping lines through public orders in this regard, although the shipping lines were not following the guidelines issued by Pakistan Customs.
On the other hand, All Pakistan Shipping Lines Association (APSA) Chairman Mushtaq Ali Shah holds Customs authorities responsible for the entire problem.
Shah, while talking to Customs Today, said that customs authorities were not doing proper entries of import and export consignments, which was main reason for delay in filing the IGMs on LCL/FCL cargo.
“We have taken up the said issue to customs authorities several times, but no notice has taken yet,” he added.
Chairman APSA further informed this scribe that a meeting of all shipping lines has scheduled on September 24 in which issues related to IGMs filing, WeBOC and others would be discussed.
It is important to mention here that the trade is being suffered badly due to the mis-management of shipping lines, ports and Customs authorities.
