ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Maritime Affairs has directed Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to immediately stop private container terminals including QICT from collecting scanning charges on containers which are not selected for scanning.
Customs Today has been reporting on the issues of misuse of yellow and green channel facilities and putting of burden of extra illegal charges on importers by terminal operators and shipping companies in shape of demurrage or detention or scanning charges. This is a shut-up call to the private terminals including QICT by the Maritime Affairs Ministry to stop looting the importers on the name of scanning charges. The QICT is already bleeding the genuine importers by demanding extra detention charges. On the other hand, only 1-1.5 percent of the containers actually undergo scanning which promotes smuggling through sea ports. Around 930 containers of electronics and grey fabrics are cleared in garb of second hand clothing. These containers are allegedly cleared without any scanning or examination.
After such coverage by Customs Today NAB took notice of the situation and issued notices to chief collector and collectors in an inquiry against officials/officers of Customs Department and others regarding illegal import of electronics and grey fabrics in the garb of second hand clothing, causing loss to national exchequer. NAB issued notice to the Chief Collector and collectors under section 9A and section 10 of National Accountability Ordinance, 1999 and schedule thereto.
Sources told Customs Today that the NAB earlier examined Appraising Officer Appraisement East Azhar Abbas and Appraising Officer Appraisement East Aamir Hussain and issued call-up notices to Appraising Officer Appraisement East Ghullam Asghar Mirrani, Principal Appraiser Appraisement East Abdul Qayyoum and Appraising Officer Appraisement East Khurram Rafique for 24 September, 25 September and 27 September respectively.
According to the letter F. No. 3(6)/2019-Coord issued by Ministry of Maritime Affairs, it was informed in a meeting held at Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) that private containers terminals, operating at KPT and PQA were collecting scanning charges (five dollars on each and every container), albeit only 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the containers actually undergo scanning.
The levy of such charges without use of scanning services is an undue burden on the local businesses and increases the cost of doing business and it is, therefore, detrimental to the national economy, the letter said. In addition, the levy of such charges is neither covered under any statue nor by the contracts executed between two port authorities and the terminal operators. The levy of scanning charges especially in respect of containers is not subjected to scanning and also defies commercial rationale and business sense; the letter said and added that no scanning charges were being levied at Gwadar Port.
In these circumstances, the KPT and the PQA are advised to immediately engage with the management(s) of private container terminals within their respective jurisdiction and issue necessary instructions to these entities to forthwith stop the levy of scanning charges on containers which are not selected for scanning. A compliance report in respect of above instructions may be communicated to this ministry by 30 September 2019.
Additional Secretary Commerce Syed Muhammad Tariq Huda had taken the initiative and followed up the issue meticulously. He has practical knowledge about matters of Karachi ports and problems being faced by importers due to his posting at key positions in Customs for several years in the metropolis. Before joining the Commerce Division, he performed his duties as Director General DGTR Karachi and Director General (OPS) Training & Research (Customs) Karachi. Earlier, he worked as Collector Collectorate of Customs (Appeals) Karachi, Collector Model Customs Collectorate of Preventive Karachi and Chief Federal Board of Revenue Islamabad.
