KARACHI, July 12, 2024 – In line with the Prime Minister’s recent decision to establish a regulatory authority for the shipping sector, a crucial meeting was held under the supervision of Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi.
One of the key decisions made was in response to Zubair Motiwala’s demand: starting July 20th, 2024, all shipping companies will remain operational every Saturday for one month to issue Delivery Orders (DO) and fully facilitate the business community.
This decision will be reviewed after a month and could be extended further.
The meeting saw attendance from notable figures including Chairman Businessmen Group Zubair Motiwala, Former President Karachi Chamber Muhammad Idrees, Senior Vice President FPCCI Saqib Fayyaz Magoon, Former Vice Presidents Nasir Mehmood and Younus Soomro, Patron-in-Chief Pakistan Ship Agents Association Mohammad Rajpar, Senior Vice Chairman All Pakistan Shipping Association Raheel Moonis, Chairman Custom Association Maqbool Malik, General Secretary Custom Agents Association Mehmood ul Hassan, KPT GM(O) Rear Admiral Rizwan Ahmed, Collector Customs (Enforcement Ports) Omair Shafiq, and other senior KPT officials.
All participants agreed on the necessity of forming a regulatory authority for the shipping sector. They also discussed the previously formulated Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority (LSPRA) Bill, which has been pending since 2013. The consensus was to revisit the LSPRA Bill after consultation with all stakeholders in the presence of Chairman KPT. A follow-up meeting, chaired by Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi, will be held next week to finalize the draft of the LSPRA Bill for approval.
In response to suggestions from the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) regarding the issuance of pre-arrival Delivery Orders similar to Goods Declarations (GDs), Collector Customs (Enforcement Ports) Omair Shafiq affirmed the feasibility of this initiative. He assured that a decision to provide the pre-arrival DO facility to the business community would be made in the coming days.
The KCCI has consistently advocated for the regulation of the shipping sector since 2013, yet the LSPRA Bill has remained pending. With the Prime Minister’s intervention, the business community is optimistic that the long-awaited LSPRA Bill will soon materialize, ensuring proper regulation of the shipping sector.
This new development aims to address long-standing inefficiencies and bottlenecks in the shipping industry. By extending operational hours on Saturdays and potentially introducing pre-arrival DOs, the authorities hope to streamline operations, reduce delays, and enhance the overall business environment in Karachi. The business community eagerly anticipates the positive impact these changes will bring, fostering smoother and more efficient trade processes.
As these measures take effect, all eyes will be on the shipping companies and regulatory bodies to see how effectively they can implement these changes and address the sector’s longstanding issues.