June 27, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 22, 1429

KARACHI, June 26: Shipping lines have unilaterally increased their weekly calling time at the ports to two weeks, which is causing long delays in shipment of export consignments, exporters complained.

According to them the lines calling at Qasim International Container Terminal have suddenly changed their weekly schedule for loading export containers.

As a result of this unilateral decision a large number of export containers are presently stuck at the terminal creating congestion like situation.

Saleem Shahzad, vice-chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said that when shipping lines were contacted they said that delay in arrival of ship was due to monsoon season.

He said that in the past shipping lines never delayed or changed their weekly calls at the country’s ports in any season and had always informed the business community well in advance about their shipping schedules.

Sultan Ahmed, a leading hosiery exporter, said that the delay in shipments of export orders was causing financial loss to the industry as large funds are blocked in the consignments still lying at the ports.

Mr Ahmed urged the government to look into the matter at the earliest so that export trade which is already declining could be saved from total collapse.

Meanwhile, shipping circles told Dawn that the reduced load from country’s ports had compelled the lines to extend their calling period so that they could get full vessel load.

With the rising price of fuel the shipping lines also faced with cost problem and lately they had been taking different measures to reduce their cost and make the voyage of each vessel cost effective, they added.