KARACHI: Recent changes to the Pakistan Customs Green Channel rules have led to significant delays in clearing thousands of imported goods containers, including vital supplies, at the port. Businesses are experiencing considerable financial losses while shipping companies and terminal operators benefit from increased demurrage and detention fees.
These delays in clearing goods pose a risk to the availability of essential items like medicines, pulses, medical devices, steel, and other necessities in local markets.
Khurram Ejaz, Chairman of the Customs Advisory Council at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), stated that Customs authorities modified the Green Channel criteria without prior notice. This sudden adjustment has dropped the clearance rate from over 47% to below 26%, resulting in a backlog of containers that require manual inspection and assessment.
Delays Cause Unnecessary Costs
Importers are now facing a four-day wait to offload containers, plus an additional two to three days for inspections. This inefficiency has put immense pressure on terminal operators and Customs officers, further delaying the process.
Ejaz pointed out that Customs authorities should have provided advance notifications regarding the changes and increased staffing to manage the heightened workload.
The delays have also enabled private terminal operators and shipping companies to charge extra fees, such as demurrage and detention costs. Importers are now compelled to pay these fees every five days, significantly increasing their operational expenses.
Call for Action
Businesses are calling on Customs authorities to revert to the previous Green Channel parameters or to introduce measures that would streamline the clearance process. Immediate action is essential to avoid further disruptions in the supply of critical goods and to alleviate financial burdens on importers.
