Karachi, 1 April 2026 – Khurram Ijaz, foreign trade and logistics expert and former Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), has condemned what he called “unjust and exploitative practices” by port authorities and shipping lines, as exporters face mounting demurrage and detention charges for containers stranded following the Iran war fallout.
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Ijaz highlighted that exporters had completed all obligations—payments settled, bookings confirmed, and containers delivered to ports well before regional tensions escalated in late February. “It is highly unjustified that exporters are now being penalized for delays entirely beyond their control,” he said, calling the situation a clear case of Force Majeure.
He criticized the inconsistent approach of shipping lines and port operators, warning that case-by-case decisions create uncertainty and the potential for arbitrary penalties. Ijaz urged the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to issue a policy directive instructing all terminals and shipping lines to waive demurrage, detention, and container rent for consignments that arrived at ports between 24 February and 10 March, especially those destined for Middle Eastern markets.
“If operators cannot absorb the costs, the government should consider a temporary compensation mechanism to protect exporters,” he added.
Ijaz warned that continued penalties risk damaging Pakistan’s credibility in global markets. Exporters, he noted, are already facing high energy tariffs, rising logistics expenses, and shrinking demand. “At this critical juncture, the priority must be to facilitate exporters—not penalize them for circumstances entirely beyond their control,” he concluded.
