The 15th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Association of Shippers Councils of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka (ASCOBIPS) held in Dhaka has recommended that Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) should start service from Chittagong and Mongla to Karachi.
Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry's Pakistan Shippers Council (PSC) Chairman A. Rasheed Janmohammed attended the meeting held from May 20 to 21.
According to FPCCI communication the meeting decided to evolve mechanism to frame standard trading conditions for the freight forwarders and NVOCC.
The meeting observed that the freight forwarders and NVOCCs must be registered with proper authority.
In Sri Lanka, the NVOCCs are registered with the director of Merchant Shipping. However, in Pakistan, NVOCCs are not registered anywhere.
The meeting emphasised upon the main line operators to conform to the provisions of UNCTAD code of conduct for liner conferences, while increasing freight.
The meeting also emphasised upon Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC)/Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to start service from Chittagong and Mongla to Karachi as Bangladesh have order to supply 125,000 M tons per year raw jute to Pakistan, but because of no service from PNSC/BSC trade is slow.
The chairmanship of ASCOBIPS was transferred to Bangladesh from Sri Lanka as a policy of rotation.
The meeting decided to set up a permanent secretariat of ASCOBIPS at Dhaka.
The ASCOBIPS members attending the AGM unanimously agreed to become a founder member of Asian Shippers Council, which is under formation and would be formally announced in the "Global Shipper Forum" to be held in Singapore in September.
Minister for Shipping, Government of Bangladesh inaugurated the meeting, while John Y. Lu, chairman, Federation of Asean Shippers Council (FASC), was the special guest on the occasion.
During the meeting it was resolved that the terminal handling charges (THC) should be abolished and all costs should be part of the freight.
The meeting observed that the THC as collected by Shipping Lines basically has nothing to do with the port's operational activities. Instead, it is a surcharge over and above the normal freight and its aim is to enable Shipping Lines to increase profit margins.
There is no uniformity in the THC imposed across Asian countries, and there is a wide disparity in the currency exchange where some countries are being charged in US dollars, while others are being charged in their respective local currencies.
In Pakistan, THC is charged at Rs 4,500 per 20 feet container and at Rs 6,750 per 40 feet container.
In the ASCOBIPS meeting, it was resolved to push for the acceptance of an "All-in-freight rate". This will simplify the application of ocean freight rates. It will make the shipping cost fair and more competitive because the "All-in-freight" will now be influenced by the market factors.
Comments
Comments are closed.