Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) held a joint meeting with Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) and All Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA) at KCCI. From KCCI, Anjum Nisar, President, Muhammad Jawed Bilwani, Senior Vice President, Nasir Mehmood, Chairman Shipping & Multi-model Transport Sub-Committee-KCCI, Captain Anwar Shah, Advisor to the President of KCCI for Shipping & Multimodal Transport, Muhammad Haroon Agar, Former Vice President and Rafiq Bilwani, prominent industrialist participated in the meeting. Whereas from PSAA, Muhammad Ali Rajpar, Chairman, M. H. Khokhar, Vice Chairman and Captain Abdul Rashid Abro, Executive Member, and from APSA, Sohail Shams, Chairman, Riaz Ahmed Secretary participated in the meeting.
Nasir Mehmood, Chairman Shipping & Multi-model Transport Sub-Committee-KCCI, presented proposals from KCCI platform on Security Deposit issue, THC issue, Insurance Issue, Uniform Charges and information of regional based ports tariffs would be provided to KCCI from PSAA & APSA. He revealed that the purpose of holding of this meeting was to resolve the problems / issues while synchronizing the co-ordination among KCCI and other trade bodies.
In the meeting, various issues related to shipping industry were discussed which are being faced by traders & consignees. Nasir Mehmood also highlighted and suggested that to establish Single Regulatory Authority consisted of Shipping Lines / Agent, Freight Forwarders & Terminal Operators be monitored under this regulatory authority and house endorsed his suggestion.
It was resolved that PSAA & APSA will ensure their entire cooperation and assistance to resolve the problems related to shipping industry. Captain Anwar Shah also pointed out and criticized terminal operators that they always wrongly charge exorbitant amount to consignees and traders causing detrimental effect on trade. There is no uniformity in their tariffs as compared to Asian region. He suggested that Government of Pakistan should setup National Tariff Regulatory Authority for controlling the malpractices of terminal operators. He also appreciated efforts and potential of Nasir Mehmood, Chairman, Shipping & Multi-model Transport Sub-Committee-KCCI on shipping related issues.
Resolutions were passed which concluded that KCCI would hold seminar in first half of May 2009 with joint collaboration of PSAA & APSA at KCCI for learning and creating awareness and interaction among Shipping Companies / Agents, traders & consignees for betterment of trade environment of the Country.