Shippers refuse to accept KPT as regulator

The ship agents came out with a hard-hitting response to the Karachi Port Trust chairman’s announcement to go tough against the shipping companies allegedly looting the local business community by overcharging. In a statement, Pakistan Ship’s Agents Association (PSAA) has not only rejected the KPT chief’s instructions about shipping charges but also refused to accept it as a regulator of the shipping industry. “The KPT is a landlord port, not a regulator, therefore shipping lines/agents are not bound to report to KPT or subject to being regulated by KPT,” the PSAA stressed. The relations of shipping companies with the KPT got bitter when the business community complained about the overcharging and KPT Chairman Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi said the authority will go very tough against the highhandedness of shipping companies. According to a press release issued by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) issued on Jan 17, Mr Zaidi said the shipping companies will be held accountable for allegedly looting the business community by overcharging under various heads without any justification.