But despite this certificate, KMTC and its agents hold goods of importers and charge them heavy amounts as demurrage.

Sources said importers, through shipper/their agents in China, handed the goods to KMTC Line as trust to be delivered and released to them here at PICT, Karachi, by their nominated agents United Marine Agencies at Karachi. Even importers have already paid in full to the shipping lines the ocean freight charges as agreed between the parties. But the agents have not released their goods yet.

Importers further said if United Marine Agencies (agents of KMTC) did not comply with its obligation of waving 100% charges of detention and demurrage, then necessary legal action will be taken under the law as also prescribed in section 156(1) 7A of the Customs Act, 1969 which includes penalty on United Marine Agencies (Pvt.) Ltd and also cancellation of license of United Marine Agencies (Pvt.) Ltd under SRO 1220(I)/2015.

Sources said importers of Pakistan should be careful for booking their containers with these shipping lines which would not be allowed to call their ships on ports in the event of cancellation of their licenses.

Corruption of these corrupt shipping lines have shocked millions of importers across Pakistan as their businesses are at stake due toillegal demands of additional demurrage and detention charges and looting them mercilessly.

They were already losing billions of rupees due to these corrupt shipping lines and now if these shipping lines’ licenses are cancelled then importers could not get their goods already loaded on these vessels. When licenses are cancelled of these shipping lines then the goods loaded on them would have to be called at transit locations like Dubai, Singapore, etc. instead of reaching Karachi ports.