February 07, 2008	Thursday	Muharram 28, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 6: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has warned of another crisis if the government did not resolve promptly the issue of terminal congestion surcharge, penalty charges and containers detention charges on import and export consignments imposed by shipping companies.

KCCI Vice-President Mohammad Haroon Agar said in a statement on Wednesday that if these charges were implemented, export and import targets of the current fiscal year could not be met.

He referred to a decision taken by the National Trade & Transport Facilitation Committee in a meeting on February 1 in which it was resolved that with the consent of the shipping lines representatives the implementation of charges should extend up to February 15 until final decision is taken.

Mr Agar said that the chamber had suggested that the shipping lines should rescind the decision or at least extend it up to March 1.

He said that it seemed that no effort was made to involve stakeholders while determining the charges.

He drew attention of the authorities that most of the shipping lines had completely ignored the Feb 1 decision and were harassing importers and exporters by charging them exorbitantly.

—PPI