Despite PM’s direction... : Shipping companies revert to 6-day work week

Shipping companies have withdrawn decision to keep their offices open on Saturdays only after three months

By Sohail Afzal
November 13, 2024
An aerial picture shows stacks of containers pictured on the deck of the MSC Allegra (right) and Ever Atop (left) container ships, docked beside container cranes at a port. — AFP/file
An aerial picture shows stacks of containers pictured on the deck of the MSC Allegra (right) and Ever Atop (left) container ships, docked beside container cranes at a port. — AFP/file

KARACHI: Ignoring Prime Minister’s instructions, shipping companies ended relief provided to trade and industry.

Due to the lack of interest of the Federal Ministry of Ports and Shipping, shipping companies have withdrawn the decision to keep their offices open on Saturdays only after three months and have restored the schedule of keeping the offices open five days a week instead of six. When Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had visited KPT in July 2024, in a meeting with the business community, trade bodies expressed concern over the late delivery of orders and pointed out that the offices of the shipping companies were closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

Due to closure on Sunday, trade and industry face difficulties and their production costs also increase. To which, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued instructions to the Federal Minister of Ports and Shipping that the offices of shipping companies and agents should be kept open six days a week.

A task force was also formed on the instructions of the Prime Minister to solve the problems of the shipping industry. However, despite all this, the shipping companies began to phase out the implementation of the decision after only 2 months, and now all the companies are closed on Saturdays.

Shipping companies argue that the decision to open six-days a week had increased their costs, as calling staff on holidays forced them to work overtime.