MULTAN: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should take action against M/s Maersk Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and its agents in Pakistan, M/s Pacific Delta Shipping (Pvt) Ltd in a mega scam of exorbitant demurrage and detention to address grievances of importers. Collection of exorbitant demurrage and detention charges from genuine importers is open violation of laws and said shipping companies should be held accountable for stealing huge revenue.
This was stated by Advocate Muhammad Nazim Khan while talking to Customs Today about the mega scam of demurrage and detention charges. Blackmailing of M/s Maersk Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd, Pacific International Lines (PIL) and its agents in Pakistan, M/s Pacific Delta Shipping (Pvt) Ltd have created obstacles for clearance of genuine shipments.
He said collection of excessive demurrage and detention charges from importers is an unjustified act and these shipping companies are also spoiling business environment in the country which will also upset our national economy. He termed collection of demurrage and detention charges for the clearance of shipments without any specified agreement as criminal offense from said shipping companies.
Importers of South Punjab faced blackmailing of shipping companies for the clearance of their legitimate imported shipments, and shipping companies were charging baseless demurrage and detention charges; otherwise importers had to face extraneous delay in the clearance of their shipments, causing them financial loss.
Due to negligence of port terminals, importers are charged with additional demurrage and detention charges as shipments are blocked by raising baseless objections. Shipping companies and port authorities cannot charge any demurrage or detention charges if Customs provides a delay and detention certificate to importers but reportedly even with this certificate Shipping Company M/s Maersk, Ms PIL and M/s Pacific Delta Shipping (Pvt) Ltd are illegally charging huge amount of demurrage and detention to importers.
Shipping companies, port terminals and Customs staff have made trio to blackmail importers for the collection of illegal demurrage and detention charges. National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should take strict action against M/s Maersk, Ms PIL and M/s Pacific Delta Shipping (Pvt) for charging additional demurrage charges.
He suggested that NAB should take action against shipping companies involved in excess logistic charges under rules 603(q), 603(r), 604(p), 604(q) & 607(e), others under SRO 1220/2015 to protect importers from blackmailers. NAB should recover looted revenue worth billions from shipping companies under head of demurrage and detention charges to address their grievances.
