Customs authorities have issued immediate directives to tackle persistent cargo mishandling, pilferage, and significant operational delays at Karachi’s ports, responding to long-standing complaints from the business community about trade inefficiencies.
According to information today, significant measures were announced by Customs Appraisement South during a stakeholder meeting aimed at resolving critical bottlenecks. The session was attended by top representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), customs agents associations, and terminal operators.
Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the FPCCI, articulated the primary challenges faced by traders, which included persistent delays in the grounding of containers by terminal operators, frequent incidents of cargo damage during examination, and restricted delivery hours at off-dock terminals that lead to congestion and increased costs.
In response, the Chief Collector Appraisement South, affirming a commitment to reducing port dwell time to meet international standards, issued a series of directives for immediate implementation. These instructions mandate that off-dock terminals must extend their cargo delivery hours, trained and certified packers must be deployed for stuffing and de-stuffing cargo, and strict timelines for the grounding of containers are to be followed.
Mr. Sheikh welcomed the announcements, stating, “The business community has been raising these issues for a long time. The meeting and the firm instructions given by Customs are a major step forward in trade facilitation.” He reaffirmed the FPCCI”s commitment to working with all stakeholders to promote ease of doing business.
Asif Sakhi, Vice President of FPCCI, who represented the apex body at the meeting, noted that the directives will significantly reduce delays, protect valuable cargo, and ease terminal congestion. He emphasized that “when stakeholders sit together, practical solutions are found quickly.”
Mr. Sakhi reiterated that continuous dialogue and the swift enforcement of such decisions are essential to strengthen Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional and global trade.