Pak Dry Ports Assn calls for abolition of high wharfage

Faisalabad: Chairman, Pakistan Dry Ports Association (PDPA), Shahzad Ali Siddiqi has demanded the abolition of high wharfage rates and dual service charges of Karachi Ports / Terminals and urged the Minister for Ports & Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri to intervene and help normalise the port charges.

In a press statement issued here on Friday, the PDPA Chairman said that the shipping lines are very frequently increasing their charges and inflicting penalties for late collection of bills of lading (BL).

He said that limited free days are granted for cargo of dry ports, besides the levying of exorbitant containers' detention charges upon importers.

The PDPA Chairman said that the government body SARAB (Shipping Rate Advisory & Shipping Board) had become ineffective to keep a check on these high charges, hence, the Ministry of Ports & Shipping should issue orders for making the SARAB an effective body.

Shahzad Ali Siddiqi also demanded of President, Pakistan Shipping Association, for the rationalisation of the sea freights and other related matters in consultation with the Pakistan Dry Ports Association.

The PDPA Chairman also demanded a permanent seat for the Association in Karachi Port Trust (KPT) so that the problems being confronted by the upcountry Dry Ports could be sorted out through the mutual discussion in the meetings.

Siddiqi further demanded that the Karachi Ports themselves handle the cargo cleared by upcountry dry ports and do not allow the private terminals to lift/transfer the dry port's cargo without their permission, which causes considerable delay for issuance of the Transhipment Permit (TP).