Shipping companies in Pakistan directed to stay operational on Saturdays

Shipping companies in Pakistan directed to stay operational on Saturdays

By: Communicators - Business Team (July 15, 2024)

In pursuance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent decision to establish a regulatory authority for shipping sector, a meeting was held under the supervision of Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi. It was decided that with effect from July 20th, 2024, all shipping companies will remain operational on every Saturday for a period of one month for issuance of Delivery Orders (DO) to fully facilitate business community. The decision to keep Shipping Companies operational on Saturday for issuance of Delivery Orders will be reviewed after one month and could be extended further.

All participants of the meeting agreed that that a regulatory authority must be formed for shipping sector whereas the previously formulated Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) Bill, which has been pending since 2013, should be revisited after consultation with all stakeholders in presence of Chairman KPT, hence, it was decided that LSPRA Bill will be revisited next week in another meeting. Upon reaching consensus, the draft LSPRA Bill will be forwarded for approval.

In response to Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) suggestions pertaining to issuance of pre-arrival Delivery Orders as being done in case of GDs, it was also agreed by Collector Customs (Enforcement Ports) Omair Shafiq that this can be done and there was absolutely no issue in providing pre-arrival DO facility to business community. It was also assured that the decision, in this regard, will be taken in the next few days for issuance of pre-arrival DO.

It is pertinent to mention here that the KCCI has been constantly demanding to regulate shipping sector since 2013 but the LSPRA Bill remains pending to date. With Prime Minister’s intervention, the business community was fairly optimistic that the much-awaited and desperately needed LSPRA Bill will soon become a reality to fully regulate shipping sector.