February 16, 2008	Saturday	Safar 08, 1429

KARACHI, Feb 15: Foreign shipping lines, which had earlier imposed congestion surcharge on import cargo, have withdrawn the same from Feb 11, shipping lines sources said.

A spokesman for the Maersk Shipping, which is the main carrier for imports and exports from and to Europe and US, said on Friday the line had withdrawn the surcharge till further notice.

It would review the situation in the days ahead and would decide about withdrawing or otherwise the surcharge permanently.

The spokesman further stated that the company would consider requests for refund of the amount charged under the congestion head.

Maersk, Evergreen, Wanhai and Yangmin had applied $200 and $400 surcharge on 20 ft and 40 ft containers, respectively, from Feb 1 on the plea that as a result of violence after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, importers have stopped clearing their goods due to transport shortage and exorbitant rates of storage in godowns, which has led to worst congestion at terminals.

According to business sources, the other three shipping lines have also withdrawn surcharge from Feb 11 and would refund the amount charged under the head.

The managements of container terminals – QICT, PICT and KICT had also announced Rs5,000 and Rs10,000 penalty on goods not cleared within 48 hours of the expiry of the demurrage period.

The penalty was, however, not levied on the requests of the FPCCI and KCCI.

About 99 per cent of Pakistan’s foreign trade is carried through foreign shipping lines and the country has to foot a bill of $1.7 billion annually on freight.