Ports & Shipping Stakeholders unanimously favor the establishment of a Regulatory Body.

KARACHI: All stakeholders of the Ports & Shipping sector unanimously favoured the idea of establishing an autonomous Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) which, amongst other affairs, will particularly be responsible for devising legal framework, issuing guidelines, deciding charges and monitoring all the activities of entire ports and shipping sector.
During a meeting under the supervision of Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi held at KPT Head Office, it was further agreed that the LSPRA Bill, which has been pending since 2013, will be revisited in consultation with all stakeholders under the supervision of Chairman KPT to make necessary amendments as per current scenario and then forwarded to the government for approval and implementation.
Besides President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh and Chairman Customs & Valuation Subcommittee Sheikh Waqas Anjum, the meeting was also attended by representatives of shipping companies, shipping agents, customs agents, freight forwarders, terminal operators and others.
President KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh, while sharing details of the meeting, informed that all stakeholders were of similar opinion as they strongly believe that it has become inevitable to establish a regulatory body so that the varying and unjust charges by shipping lines could be controlled, besides creating an enabling business environment for promoting Pakistan’s trade and bringing port operations at par with international standards.
He said that concerns were also expressed over varying and exorbitant LCL charges by Off-dock Terminals and Chairman KPT was requested to take up this matter with Off-Dock Terminals who must be directed to publicize their rate lists.
He particularly appreciated the resolve exhibited by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and Chairman KPT Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi to improve the performance of entire ports and shipping sector so that Pakistan’s trade, particularly the exports could be fully facilitated which was badly needed under the prevailing scenario wherein the country was battling hard for its economic survival.
He mentioned that the facility of keeping the shipping companies operational every Saturday for issuance of Delivery Orders (DOs) which was now available, became possible thanks to the efforts made by Chairman Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala who kept pursuing this matter so that it became a reality. “Last Saturday, most of the shipping companies including Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, CMA CGM, Green Pak, PIL, MSC, OOCL, Cosco, Inshipping, Emirates, CIM, Sharaf, Eastern Sea, ONE Line, Yaseen Shipping, MA & GAC, Freight Connection and PakShaheen remained operational for issuance of DOs.”
Iftikhar Sheikh reiterated that the business community faces inconsistency in charges, thus making costing and forecasting difficult for businessmen. There should be some sort of harmonization in such charges, which allow a level playing field for all traders, he advised, adding that the KCCI, along with KPT, were ready to play a role in the establishment of a single regulatory authority which would help to combat such tariff issues besides other major problems faced by the ports and shipping agents.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Karachi Chamber has been constantly demanding to regulate the shipping sector since 2013 but the LSPRA Bill remains pending to date. With the Prime Minister’s intervention, the business community was fairly optimistic that the much-awaited LSPRA Bill would soon become a reality to fully regulate the shipping sector.