Businessmen rejoiced as PICT waives off demurrage caused by goods transporters strike

KARACHI: President of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Abdullah Zaki has warmly welcomed the decision taken by Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) to give 100 percent waiver on demurrage charges of shipments which remained stuck at the port due to 12-day long goods transporters.

Abdullah Zaki said that this waiver has been given by PICT after a detailed meeting between Chief Executive PICT, Capt. Zafar Iqbal Awan and Chairman of KCCI’s Sub-Committee for Ports, Shipping and Multi-Modal Transport, Asif Nisar on Tuesday in which this pressing issue was thoroughly discussed by the KCCI’s representative who succeeded in convincing PICT’s management to grant this much-needed relief.

“Asif Nisar has not only been instrumental in putting an end to goods transporters strike, which resulted in losses of billions of rupees, but has also played the key role in convincing PICT to completely waive off demurrage charges on various shipments which remained unattended at the port due to the said strike”, he added.

Appreciating the gesture displayed by CEO PICT, Capt. Zafar Iqbal Awan towards providing relief to the perturbed business community, Abdullah Zaki said that PICT has set a final example for other container terminals to emulate, which, if practiced by the remaining container terminals, would help in reducing the grievances being faced by businessmen and industrialists, besides creating a conducive business atmosphere for all stakeholders.

Chairman of KCCI’s Sub-Committee for Ports, Shipping and Multi-Modal Transport, Asif Nisar said that PICT will not charge any demurrage charges for twelve days due to  goods transporters’ strike whereas demurrage charges, which have already been paid by businessmen during the said period will be fully refunded by PICT through cheques.

He said that PICT management has also invited KCCI Office Bearers to pay a visit PICT so that they could exchange views on matters of mutual interest, bring problems being faced by the business community into limelight, and come up with suggestions on how to resolve various issues.