TC May-Jun 2021 Issue

TRADE CHRONICLE
Ports, Shipping & railway
Tariq Haleem hails the appointment of Mahmood Moulvi
as Special Assistant to PM for Maritime Affairs
President Pakistan Stevedores’
Conference (G) Ltd, Tariq Haleem,
has hailed Mr Mahmood Moulvi as
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister
of Pakistan Imran Khan, for Ministry of
Maritime Affairs, Govt of Pakistan.
Special Assistant to the PM.
He expressed hope that Mahmood
Moulvi would trigger off speedy
improvement and progress of all Ports
of Pakistan.
Tariq Haleem expressed his heartiest
congratulations on Mahmood induction
into the cabinet, a notification for which
appointment was issued last Tuesday.
While congratulating Special Assistant,
the President Pakistan Stevedores’
Conference said that Mahmood Moulvi
has vast experience handling the dayto-day
business of shipping in all its
varied aspects. In addition, he has close
contacts with all the relevant persons in
the port and maritime sector, and we
are sure that he will be a role model
Shipping agents seek amendments
to trans-shipment rules
In its Budget 2021-22 proposals shared
shared with media, the Pakistan Ship’s
Agents Association (PSSA) urged the
government to facilitate re-export of
shipments by amending trans-shipment
rules as it was shifting businesses
from local ports to other facilities in the
region.
The PSSA asked
the government
to amend Rule
510A of SRO
03(I)/2021, Jan
4, 2021, related
to the “transshipment
of
imported cargo
from gateway
port to a foreign
port”. Under the
rules, only Full Con tainer Load (FCL)
or sealed cargo containers are allowed
for “International trans-shipment (IT)”
via seaports in Pakistan.
While ship agents have asked the
government to allow trans-shipment
of Less than Container Load (LCL)
cargoes too, which are forwarded
to the country of origin in the form of
Mahmood also announced it on
Twitter, thanking PM Khan and Federal
Maritime Affairs Minister Ali Zaidi for
“honouring” him with the position.
Tariq Haleem said, “We are sure that he
will always take a proactive approach in
the removal of all impediments causing
slow/negligible growth of Pakistan
merchant ships fleet, solving longpending
port-related projects – issues
and implementing the best facilities,
which are imperative for competing
with the regional ports”.
“grouped shipment” as
an international business
practice. Allowing LCL
cargo will enhance business
opportunities and revenue generation
for the sector, the association added.
The PSSA has asked for five
amendments in the Customs Act 1969,
including enhancing the limit of ocean
losses on bulk oil cargo to 0.50 per cent
of the manifested
quantity. The
other demand was
an amendment
in clause 24 (i)
of section 156
asking that the
“shipowner”
should be defined
as “shipowner not
as a local agent”.
The association
said that
amendments were needed in Section
55(1)(e) and 55(2) of the Customs Act
as under the current rules a shipping
agent is held liable for claims brought
by the owner of the goods even when
the agent has excluded his liability
under the Agency Agreement and in
situations where the agent was not
involved in default, negligence or willful
act.
Courtesy (DAWN)
Mahmood Moulvi
Tariq Haleem
We are confident that Prime Minister
Imran Khan’s vision of choosing a
person from the concerned sector
aware of ground realities will bear fruit.
Mahmood Moulvi “Hum main say hain”.
Tariq Haleem has assured Mahmood
Moulvi of the wholehearted support of
Pakistan Stevedores’ Conference (G)
Ltd (PSCGL) for the progress of ports
in Pakistan.
‘PQA’s reserve fund
crosses $700mln’
The Reserve fund of Port Qasim
Authority (PQA) has crossed $700
million (Rs110 billion mark) due to
strong financial performance of PQA
during the last three years, Minister
Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi said.
In his budget speech in the national
assembly, the minister added the
strong growth in PQA reserves is
possible due to hefty profit earned by
PQA in last three years and PQA will
make a record Rs19 billion net profit
this financial year which will be 23
percent higher than last financial year.
Interestingly, out of total PQA reserves
of Rs110 billion, Rs43 billion was added
during last three years compared
to Rs67 billion since PQA inception
in 1973. The minister said PQA has
paid Rs8 billion in taxes to federal
government during this financial year.
Zaidi said PQA has handled 57 million
tonnes this year which was 12 percent
higher than last year.
The minister added that he had not
allowed sale of a single acre during his
tenure and all PQA profits are based on
port commercial operations.
TRADE CHRONICLE - May - Jun - 2021 - Page # 31