KARACHI: The Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) has raised serious concerns over the burgeoning backlog of consignments at the nation’s ports, with KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani calling for urgent intervention to prevent mounting demurrage and detention costs that are weighing heavily on the business community.
In a strongly worded statement, Bilwani urged the authorities to streamline the consignment clearance process, suggesting the establishment of distinct processing queues for Manufacturers-cum-Exporters, General Industries, and Commercial Importers. “By creating separate lanes and running them concurrently, clearance can be expedited, operational disruptions minimized, and discriminatory practices eradicated,” he asserted.
Bilwani underscored the dire need to prioritize industrial goods, which are currently being treated on par with standard commercial imports. “The crisis at our ports necessitates a war footing strategy. All clearing-related operations, including customs and banking services, must remain fully functional on weekends until the backlog is cleared, and port activities normalize,” he urged. Without immediate measures, he warned, the congestion could severely impede industrial operations, exports, and trade across Pakistan.
To address inefficiencies, Bilwani proposed implementing a robust daily clearance mechanism, eliminating the reliance on “urgent declarations” by ensuring all entries are processed promptly under a system of specialized queues. “Such a plan would prevent further accumulation of pending entries, enhance predictability in operations, and alleviate pressure on the system,” he explained.
He further emphasized the importance of accountability, recommending biometric attendance for customs appraisers to ensure adherence to work schedules and the achievement of predefined daily targets. “Enforcing these measures will optimize resource utilization, improve workforce discipline, and expedite consignment processing,” he stated.
Highlighting the broader ramifications, Bilwani lamented that the systemic inefficiencies were inflating costs, disrupting production cycles, and eroding export competitiveness. He called for immediate priority actions, including:
1. Ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders.
2. Addressing resource shortages to remove bottlenecks.
3. Enhancing transparency and accountability in customs operations.
Bilwani also lauded the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) introduction of Faceless Customs Clearance Assessment under its Transformation Plan. He expressed hope that this initiative would reduce delays, enhance efficiency, and conserve valuable resources, thereby alleviating some of the challenges plaguing the consignment clearance process.
“The time to act is now,” Bilwani concluded, stressing the need for decisive measures to safeguard Pakistan’s trade and industrial competitiveness.