KARACHI: The Pakistan Customs has directed all Ground Handling Agents (GHAs) to operationalise online payment systems within three months.
According to the details, the directives were issued during a meeting convened to address long-standing operational bottlenecks, excessive storage charges, and regulatory concerns being faced by the trade at Air Freight Units (AFUs), Karachi.
The meeting under the chairmanship of Hasan Saqib Sheikh, Chief Collector of Customs (Airports) was held in response to the protest announced by All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA) against one of the GHA at AFU.
The meeting was opened by Saadia Sheeraz, Collector of Customs (Airports), Karachi, who underlined that the primary objective of this meeting was to ensure transparency and uniformity in cargo handling procedures, facilitate legitimate trade, and minimize avoidable delays and financial burdens on importers and exporters.
Representatives of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), All Pakistan Customs Agents Association (APCAA), Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), GHAs, Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA), and National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) were among those who participated in the deliberations.
One of the most pressing issues taken up during the meeting was the non-implementation of online payment mechanisms by GHAs, particularly Gerry’s Dnata, despite repeated directions over several years.
Arshad Khurshid, Chairman APCAA, highlighted that the absence of digital payment facilities had been causing excessive storage charges, increased costs of doing business, and significant operational difficulties for customs agents and importers alike. He stressed that delays in payment processing were directly translating into financial losses for the trade community.
Following detailed deliberations, representatives of Gerry’s Dnata and other GHAs agreed to implement a complete online payment mechanism within three months. As an immediate interim measure, all GHAs were directed to accept cash payments of up to Rs 300,000 per consignment with effect from May 16, 2026.
The participants also deliberated upon the issue of excessive storage charges and the inadequacy of the current free-days policy, which currently allows only three days for cargo clearance.
Trade representatives argued that three days were insufficient given operational limitations and the absence of effective round-the-clock services. A proposal to enhance free days from three to five working days was discussed positively, and GHAs were directed to submit a uniform and practical proposal in consultation with PAA and stakeholders within a month.
Other agenda points included the non-availability of advance Import General Manifests (IGM) and pre-arrival cargo information, incorrect and delayed feeding of flight particulars, non-completion of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and gate-out integration by GHAs, unnecessary documentation requirements at the time of payment and cargo delivery, and operational issues at the National Bank of Pakistan’s AFU booth.
On each of these points, concrete timelines and action plans were agreed upon. GHAs were directed to coordinate with Customs, WeBOC, PSW, and PAA for completion of EDI integration within a month, while NBP was instructed to extend its banking hours at the AFU booth up to 6:30 pm within 30 days and to pursue installation of an ATM facility on priority.
The chief collector also informed that certain amendments to the Customs Rules, 2001, are presently under consideration at the policy level to bring greater legal clarity, transparency, and uniformity to the operations of GHAs functioning as terminal operators at Customs stations.
The proposed framework may include formal licensing of GHAs for a specified period, subject to renewal based on performance, compliance record, and operational efficiency, along with rationalization of financial guarantees to safeguard government revenue.
Arshad Khurshid, Chairman APCAA, later lauded the efforts of the chief collector for his timely intervention in addressing the long-standing grievances of the trade community.
He said that the chief collector’s proactive approach and personal engagement with stakeholders had instilled confidence that the issues, which had remained unresolved for years, would now be addressed in a structured and time-bound manner.
He expressed the hope that the decisions taken in the meeting would be implemented in letter and spirit and urged all GHAs to fulfill their commitments within the agreed timelines.
The meeting concluded with the chair directing all stakeholders to extend full cooperation in the implementation of both facilitative and regulatory measures and emphasizing that all agreed timelines and compliance requirements must be strictly adhered to.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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