KARACHI, April 15: The Port Qasim has reduced its charges, both wet and ancillary, on an average by 10 to 15 per cent with immediate effect. The reduction in charges, which are taking place for the first time in the port’s history will make it less expensive against most of ports in the region.
This was announced by the Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri on Friday at a press conference held in the PNSC. The minister said that with reduction in port charges the Port Qasim would be less expensive by 14 per cent against Karachi Port and by 2 per cent against Mumbai Port.
He said that the average impact of reduction in port charges would range between 10 to 15 per cent but at places it would be high as 20 per cent and this would have a positive impact on port activity as well as would reduce cost of port users.
Senator Babar Khan Ghauri said that ever since this government took over there had been emphasis on economic growth which ensured solution to all ills, including unemployment, poverty alleviation and prosperity for masses.
The minister said that it was a long-standing demand of trade to reduce port charges and today this demand has been fulfilled and it would directly benefit port users and consumers. He urged the business community to transfer the benefit of cost reduction to end consumers.
Mr Ghauri said that was well calculated move of the Prime Minister to separate communication and port and shipping ministries, which helped in giving due importance to such an important sector of the country.
The minister said that with enhanced volume of imports and exports with higher number of port users it had now become possible for the ministry to reduce charges and share the benefit with end-consumer.
He also said that the charges of other ports of the country including Karachi and Gwadar would be reduced in due course of time because “we want to ensure that our exports should be competitive in the world market.”
Director General, Ports and Shipping, Captain Anwar Shah speaking on the occasion said that total impact of the reduction would be around 10 per cent, but average benefit would be around 15 per cent. The reduction would be in wet charges, ancillary and wharfage charges.
Mr Shah said it was wrong to say that Gulf ports “are cheaper than our ports because if calculated their wet charges may be less than ours but in real term their ancillary charges are higher which make both ports charges almost same.”
Secretary general, Pakistan Ship Agents Association, Mohammad Rajpar while appreciating the move said it would attract more ships to the port. Above all, he said the on going dredging and widening of approach channel by the Port Qasim were such factors which would help enhance ship movement.
The President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Khalid Feroz said that reduction in port charges would help reduce cost of import and exports, which was equally important for a developing country like Pakistan.
Mohammad Naqi Bari chairman Standing committee on industry said that such reductions could help reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
Responding to a question the minister said that it was the endeavour of the government to run the ports on no profit no loss and try to generate revenue from industrial areas but it would take some time.
