KARACHI: The examination process of the imported consignments at the Karachi International Containers Terminal (KICT) and Pakistan International Containers Terminal (PICT) is being affected by the cloudy weather of the city, Customs Today learnt here on Wednesday.
The Customs sources said that the examining staff of the field formation Collectorates i.e. MCC-Appraisement (West) and MCC-Appraisement (East) have reduced the examination of the sensitive/fragile consignments owing to cloudy weather and predicted rain in the city.
“Reducing the examination at KICT and PICT is certainly affecting the cost of doing business, as the importers will have to pay demurrage and detention charges to the terminal operators and shipping lines,” sources added. They further said that the light drizzle on Tuesday morning has created a back-log of the imported containers in the yards of PICT and KICT. However; the Customs authorities at terminals were making efforts to wipe-out the backlog of the containers by the end of this current week.
To a query, the sources said that the Collectors of both the Collectorates have clear directives to the authorities concerned to ensure zero-pendency by the start of next week.
The sources further disclosed that the examining staff of Pakistan Customs will also carry-on the examination process on public holidays i.e. 25 December and Sunday in order to ensure zero pendency and to remove the back-log of the containers by the start of next week.
Responding to another query, the sources said that the Customs authorities were keeping safe examination of the sensitive/fragile consignments, so that the consignments could be saved from any damage due to expected rain in city.
