Traders are reportedly losing about USD750 million per month due to inefficiencies at Karachi port terminals, the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry told the first meeting of the Joint Trade Facilitation Committee on Friday.
The meeting at the Custom House was chaired by Wajid Ali, Chief Collector Appraisement (South), and included customs officials, port representatives, and business leaders.
FPCCI Vice President Asif Sakhi and former VP Muhammad Arshad Jamal highlighted staff shortages, cargo backlogs, and operational bottlenecks at Karachi International Container Terminal and South Asia Pakistan Terminals.
The business community called for reducing physical inspections through container scanning and better trader profiling. They also proposed a dedicated taskforce to streamline cargo examination and cut shipment delays.
APCAA and KCAA officials, including Arshad Khursheed, Yayah Muhammad, and Sheikh Waqas Anjum, said terminals are operating beyond capacity, lacking space, skilled labor, and technical expertise.
Chief Collector Wajid Ali urged stakeholders to develop SOPs and policies aligned with international best practices to reduce dwell time and lower costs. He invited FPCCI to submit proposals for discussion at the next JTFC meeting.
“Our doors remain open, and my team is fully committed to facilitating legitimate business activities in Pakistan,” Wajid said.
