Staff Reporter
Karachi
To support the consignees in Pakistan during the ongoing difficult times, President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has urged all shipping lines and their agents in Pakistan to give total waiver of detention charges and any penalties or charges under other heads on all consignments that landed from 10th March 2020 up to 31st May 2020.
In separate letters sent to All Pakistan Shipping Association and Pakistan Ships’ Agents Association, President KCCI pointed out that in the present extra-ordinary circumstances, the shipping lines and agents have a moral and ethical responsibility to extend relief to the consignees and waive the entire detention charges and any other penalties or charges on FCL and LCL consignments, to facilitate clearance and delivery of cargo to the consignees.
“It is important to mention that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and KPT have also approved the waiver of port demurrage and allowed additional 10 days of free storage for the imported cargoes. But unfortunately, due to accumulated detention charges importers are unable to clear their containers”, he added.
He said that due to the lockdown during the months of March and April 2020 imposed by the government to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic, many importers have not been able to clear the import cargoes within the stipulated free detention period allowed.
