Shipping firms to issue DOs even on Saturdays

KARACHI: A pivotal meeting was convened on Friday at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) following the prime minister’s directive to establish a regulatory authority for the shipping sector.

Chaired by Chairperson of KPT Syedain Raza Zaidi, the session was attended by prominent figures, including Chairperson of the Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala and officials from shipping, customs, and business communities.

According to a press release from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI), it was decided, in response to Zubair Motiwala’s advocacy, that starting July 20th, 2024, all shipping companies will operate on Saturdays for one month to facilitate the timely issuance of delivery orders (DO) for the business community. The initiative will undergo review after one month and may be extended further based on feedback.

Participants unanimously stressed the urgency of establishing a regulatory authority for the shipping sector. The long-pending Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) Bill, dormant since 2013, will be revisited in a forthcoming meeting chaired by Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi. Stakeholders will reconvene to finalize the draft LSPRA Bill for subsequent approval.

In response to the KCCI’s suggestions pertaining to the issuance of pre-arrival delivery orders as being done in the case of GDs, it was also agreed by Collector Customs Preventives Umar Shafiq that this could be done, and there was absolutely no issue in providing the pre-arrival DO facility to the business community. It was also assured that the decision, in this regard, will be taken in the next few days.

The KCCI has been constantly demanding to regulate the shipping sector since 2013, but the LSPRA Bill remains pending to date. With the prime minister’s intervention, the business community was fairly optimistic that the much-awaited and desperately needed LSPRA Bill will soon become a reality to fully regulate the shipping sector.

Officials present at the meeting included former president of the KCCI Muhammad Idrees; Senior Vice President of the FPCCI Saqib Fayyaz Magoon; former vice presidents of the KCCI Nasir Mehmood and Younus Soomro; Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Ship Agents Association Mohmmad Rajpar; Senior Vice Chairperson of the All Pakistan Shipping Association Raheel Moonis; Chairperson of the Custom Association Maqbool Malik; General Secretary of the Custom Agents Association Mehmoodul Hassan; GM(O) of the KPT Rear Admiral Rizwan Ahmed; and Collector Customs Preventives Umar Shafiq.