Karachi:
At Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), serious delays in the container change – now take five to six days instead of standard 24 hours – severely disturbed customs clearance and delivery of more than 450 import containers. These include shipments of industrial ingredients, grains, substances and other important goods. The ongoing backlog creates significant bottlenecks in the supply chain and increases import -related expenses.
President of All Pakistan Custom’s Agent’s Association Arshad Khurshid said repeated written reminders sent to the KICT management have not produced any meaningful improvements. He identified terminal overload and operational wrong leadership as the fundamental causes of the delays. “When a container has to wait five or six days just for customs examination, the entire clearance system begins to collapse,” he noted.
As a result, importers are now sadding with millions of rupees in avoidable charges and withholding costs. Khurshid also noted that delays persist, even after customs clearance, with containers that are often held for another two to three days for residue and final delivery.
He also pointed to poor sequencing and handling after container teaching. In some cases, importers are forced to arrange double deliveries due to malfunction at the terminal.
Khurshid called on the KICT management to complete the Container Association within 24 hours, secure delivery after clearance and streamline the processes of descaling, study and rest.
