The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) seeks changes in the format of Letter of Credit for imports with a view to avoid confusion about the port of delivery.
A PQA source said that it has written to the State Bank of Pakistan (SPB) to direct commercial banks to change the existing vague practice of writing in letters of credit a number of delivery points such as Pakistan, Old Port Keamari, Karachi, etc which causes confusion about the place of delivery after customs clearance of the consignments.
It has suggested that all letters of credit made for import of goods to Pakistan should mention the place of delivery as Karachi only. This would help the consignee to get his goods cleared at the port of his convenience.
He said that presently a lot of containers were transported to the Karachi Port for customs clearance because the L/C covering imports mention the word Karachi. Such containers are directed to Pak Shaheen Terminal or Al Hamd Container Terminal by customs for clearance.
The movement of a large number of containers from Port Qasim to the Karachi Port for clearance caused a great deal of traffic congestion on city roads.
He said that since both the ports i.e. Karachi Port and Port Qasim are situated in Karachi all goods showing Karachi as delivery point should be allowed to be cleared at any of them.
There are two freight stations in the vicinity of Port Qasim, which could be used for stuffing or de-stuffing of containers.
The spokesman said that there was a need to apprise the world suppliers who for decades believe that Pakistan has only one port in Karachi. They continue to mention in business documents Karachi Port as the only delivery point in Pakistan.
He said that since Port Qasim has established its worth as the second international port of Pakistan its name should be equally mentioned in the imports and export documents.
This would help save a lot of transportation cost presently born by the importers in inter port movement of containers which also involves a great deal of customs formalities resulting in delay in deliveries.
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