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KPT asked to make port tariff competitive

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The advisory committee of the Ministry of Communications has asked the Karachi Port Trust KPT management to make the port tariff competitive with the other ports of the region in a month.

The directive was issued at the meeting of the advisory committee held recently under the chairmanship of communications Secretary Dr. Akram Sheikh, following complaints from the port users that the port charges at the Karachi Port are very high compared with the charges prevailing in other regional ports, shipping industry sources revealed.

The KPT is already carrying out a study to rationalise Port charges in line with charges prevailing in other ports of the region.

The meeting also resolved that the Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB) be gradually abolished because the excessive wages charged by the labour substantially add to the cost of handling at the port.

The communications secretary told the meeting that the government was seriously considering to abolish KDLB. There is a plan to gradually reduce the number of Dock labour and finally dispense with their services.

The issue of extra-ordinary high utility charges being demanded by the KMC from the port users was also discussed at the advisory committee meeting and it was noted that the recent increase of 37 percent with retrospective effect by the KMC was unjust. The communications secretary asked the port users to formulate a proposal urging the KMC to withdraw the increase in utility charges from a back date. The committee also suggested that the utility charges within the Port estates should be collected by the KPT instead of KMC.

The Pakistan Railways representative at the meeting complained that the KPT dismantled railway track in the Port area for some development work without giving a prior notice.

He also suggested that the licensce for transporting bonded goods should be given only to the Railways and NLC.

The meeting, however, resolved that both the public and private transports should be given equal opportunity to carry the bonded goods.

The committee asked the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) to provide infrastructure including roads, water and electricity facilities to the container freight stations developed around the port.

The participants also asked the Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) to wind up its container freight station because four such stations have been constructed in the area.

The meeting was attended by the chairmen of KPT and PQA, chairman of PNSC, director general of ports and shipping, adviser to the Ministry of Communications, chairmen of All Pakistan Shipping Association and Pakistan Ships Agents Association, Karachi Stevedore Conference and Pakistan Railways.