KARACHI: Port users fear that in the coming few days, two container terminals at Karachi Port may face congestion owing to higher number of containers being marked for physical examination by the newly rolled out auto-clearance system.

The Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) was rolled out by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in the middle of last month at Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) and four days ago at Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT).

However, under the Risk Management System (RMS) of WeBOC, a larger numbers of containers are being marked for physical examination, creating a huge backlog of boxes which were occupying a lot of space at the terminals.

Faisal Mushtaq, general secretary of Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), told Dawn that the PICT where WeBOC was rolled out last month, has already started facing congestion and around 700 to 800TEUs (twenty feet equivalent units) have already accumulated for want of customsexamination.

He said if no corrective measures are taken by the FBR and the terminal operators, the situation may worsen to the extent that no space would be left for handling or unloading of boxes from new vessels calling at the port.

The rigid parameters of WeBOC's risk management system, he said are marking larger number of containers for physical examination for the customs staff and this was the main reason for huge backlog of containers at the terminals.

In the past when Pakistan Automation Customs Clearanee System (PaCCS) was operative at the PICT, daily marking for physical examination on an average never exceeded 125TEUs.

However, the same has now risen to around 300TEUs per day which stands around 300 per cent higher, thereby occupying huge space at the terminal, he maintained.

Faisal Mushtaq, however, said that his members are not against strict or rigid RMS of the WeBOC, but would like to ask terminal operators to take corrective measures by increasing infrastructure, labour and equipment need-ed for handling and grounding of containers.

Similarly, he said the FBR should also depute more customs staff for examination because KCAA would not like to see revenue loss due to relaxed RMS as was the case with PaCCS.

Anees Majid, chairman, Karachi Whole Sellers Grocers Association (KWGA), said that trade has to pay a huge amount towards demurrage and containers rent when their consignments are held back for examination for a longer period.

This makes all our imports costlier which end consumers have to ultimately pay, he added.

Terminal operators allow five days free of charges for providing space to any consignment and thereafter all sorts of charges are imposed.

Faisal Mushtaq said that on Thursday KCAA held meetings with chief executive of PICT Zafar Iqbal Awan and additional collector Adnan Akram where some decisions were taken.

However, he feared that these measures would not be sufficient to resolve the issue of huge backlog of containers at examination stage.