Stakeholders back regulatory body for ports and shipping

KARACHI: All stakeholders in the ports and shipping sector have unanimously backed the idea of establishing an autonomous Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) to oversee the industry.

The authority will particularly be responsible to devise the legal framework; issue guidelines; decide charges; and monitor all the activities of the entire ports and shipping sector.The unanimous agreement took place in a meeting, chaired by Chairperson of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi. It was also decided in the meeting that the LSPRA bill, which has been pending since 2013, will be revisited in consultation with all stakeholders under the supervision of the chairperson of the KPT to make necessary amendments as per the current scenario and then forwarded to the government for approval and implementation.

Besides President of the KCCI Iftikhar Ahmed Sheikh and Chairperson of the Customs & Valuation Subcommittee Sheikh Waqas Anjum, the meeting was also attended by representatives of shipping companies, shipping agents, customs agents, freight forwarders, terminal operators and others, a statement by the KCCI said on Thursday.

The president of the KCCI informed that all stakeholders strongly believed that establishing a regulatory body is inevitable. Such a body could be used to control varying and unjust charges by shipping lines, besides creating an enabling business environment for promoting Pakistan’s trade and bringing port operations at par with international standards.

He said that concerns were also expressed over varying and exorbitant LCL charges by off-dock terminals and the chairperson of the KPT was requested to take up this matter, directing off-dock terminals to publicize their rate lists.

He particularly appreciated the resolve exhibited by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh and Chairperson of the KPT Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi to improve the performance of the ports and shipping sector so that the country’s trade, particularly exports could be fully facilitated -- something which is badly needed under the prevailing scenario wherein the country is battling hard for its economic survival.

Iftikhar Sheikh reiterated that the business community faces inconsistency in charges, thus making costing and forecasting difficult for businesses. There should be some sort of harmonization in such charges, which allow a level playing field for all traders, he advised, adding that the KCCI and the KPT are ready to play their role in establishing a single regulatory authority which would help combat such tariff issues besides other major problems faced by the ports and shipping agents.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Karachi Chamber 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 is fairly optimistic that the much-awaited LSPRA Bill will soon become a reality to fully regulate the shipping sector.