Pakistan Shippers Council, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and various trade bodies, collectively and individual traders have been agitating these issues with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, FBR and the Ministry of Commerce. The Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Ports & Shipping have undertaken detailed consultation with stakeholders to assess and rectify the situation. It transpired during these consultations that there are basically three issues relating to shipping charges by various service providers: unfair charges, over charging and duplication of charges.
According to sources, issues relating to unfair charges and overcharging mainly concern shippig agents, freight forwarders and air cargo agents; while complaints of duplication of charges mostly relate to container terminals established at sea ports handling consignments.
The situation has been accentuated due to lack of a mechanism for regulating the services of shipping agents, freight forwarders and other logistics service providers. It was, therefore, decided that it would be expedient to put in place a regulatory framework for logistics service providers, laying down their rights and obligations specifically addressing the following areas: (i) Mode and manner of fixing tariff by the service providers; (ii) bringing transparency in trade practices adopted in respect of services rendered for arranging transportation of export/import of containerised, bulk or general cargo; and (iii) for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
Keeping in view these objectives, Logistics Service Providers Regulatory Authority Bill, 2012 was drafted and circulated to all stakeholders for comments. The original draft has been suitably amended and refined in subsequent consultation with the relevant ministries as well as private sector stakeholders.