LAHORE: Ministry of Ports and Shipping has been urged to strictly order shipping lines inscribing each lines name in the order to increase free time for port storage charges operated by terminal operator and container detention charges manage by shipping lines keeping in view the COVID-19 calamity due to which lockdowns have been imposed and all the ways of communication come to a grinding halt.
This was stated by Awais Piracha, former Central Vice Chairman Pakistan Auto Spare Parts importers and Dealers Association, Pakistan while talking to Customs Today.
He said that all most all the services including banks, couriers and others systems have chocked and it is next to impossible to pay off duty and taxes due to which demurrage and deten charges have become additional burden on both importers and the end consumers.
Piracha said that in other cases the commercial and industrial raw material importer have failed to competitive in the market due to the exorbitant detention and demurrages.
“Over 2000 containers have become an issue due to the lockdowns to be clear. If the detention charges especially are not waived it would cost millions of dollars forex exchange to be paid to the foreign hopping companies thereby imposing huge losses to the national exchequer,” he said adding that the port and shipping ministry must have to intervene to save both businesses and forex reserves.
He suggested that the Ministry should mention the names of the shipping lines , Maersk Shipping Line, Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA -CGM Group, Ever Green Marine Line, China Ocean Shipping Group, COSCO Company, Diamond Shipping Line, Green Pak Shipping Company, Ocean Network Express Pakistan Pvt Ltd and many other foreign shipping lines operative in Pakistan.
He also suggested that PRAL should update WeBOC systems with new free dates National Bank systems so that the importers might be able to deposit their duty taxes from upcountry and got their consignments.
Under special circumstances that COVID-19 has created all a cross the globe governments are giving relief to their businessmen Pakistani government should also consider free demurrages and detention period till the end of the coronavirus.
