Keeping in view the lockdown situation due to COVID-19 Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has decided to extend the free time period from 5 days to days in a bid to facilitate the business community with stranded cargo at the port.
Ali Haider Zaidi, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs in his tweet confirmed that “In view of the hardships being faced by the businesses due to coronavirus, the KPT has allowed 15 working days as free period instead of 5 days. This is application from March 25 through April 30, 2020.”
Although the decision is commendable, it might not be enough, considering the fact that over 70 percent of total cargo is dealt at private terminals which are not included under this relief offer. Vice president FPCCI Khurram Ijaz while appreciating the decision requested the concerned authorities to implement the same at private terminals.
