KARACHI: Pakistan has been assured by shipping agents that no war-related surcharges are being imposed on in-transit cargo or shipments on other routes, Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday, adding the country has also been offered relief in demurrage charges.
The United States-Israel war on Iran and Tehran’s counterattacks in the Gulf have led to the imposition of war-risk and emergency conflict surcharges ranging from $3,500 to $4,000 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), depending on the shipping line, according to Pakistani media reports.
Shipping giant Maersk announced an increase in its Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for shipments from Pakistan and the wider subcontinent to West Africa, effective April 1. Menzies RAS and Gerry’s Dnata imposed Rs25-50 per kg “ad hoc charges” on export cargo, in addition to heavy war risk and emergency conflict charges by shipping lines.
Speaking at a high-level meeting, Chaudhry said customs authorities have issued circulars urging traders to report any unjustified surcharges, with around 10 complaints processed to date to address challenges faced by Pakistan’s importers and exporters.
“This ensures accountability and protects our trading community,” he was quoted as saying by his ministry. “Additionally, terminal operators have agreed to offer relief on demurrage charges for export containers that arrived before March 3.”
