20000130

KPT appoints

consultant

to rationalise

tariff

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is revising its tariff rates to bring them in line with the other ports in the region. It has appointed a consultant to suggest rationalisation of tariff in the light of charges prevailing in other ports.

The study on the issue is on the advance stage of completion as the consultants had already visited ports in Sri Lanka, Mumbai and Dubai and submitted their reports.

To elicit views of the port users on the issue, KPT Chairman Khalid M. Mir held a meeting with the Pakistan Ships Agents Association (PSAA), which offered its services and support in both determining and formulating new port charges.

PSAA Chairman, Farouq H. Rahimtoola, suggested some measures which were required to be taken to improve competitiveness and productivity . These included rationalisation of some of tariff items.

He suggested that berth fee charges should be on per hour prorata per 6-hour periods and not on the calendar basis. Tug charges should be based on number of tugs used and crane and heavy lift charges be rationalised.

The PSAA chairman further suggested that since Karachi was the national port bodies like FPCCI and PSAA be given representation on the Board of Trustees of KPT. At present, KCCI, OCCI and KCA are represented on the board.

The standing committee on communication had recommended that PSAA be represented for given observer's status. However, the Port Act needs to be amended to achieve these objectives.

Speaking at the meeting, Khalid M. Mir welcomed the PSAA representatives and said the feedback from port users was extremely important to improve the Port's productivity.

The best guage of the port performance was its responsiveness to the users and their satisfaction, he added.

The PSAA team headed by Farouq Rahimtoola was given a detailed briefing on various operational, financial, administrative and development measures of the port.

In this regard upgradation of sea-based assets, and removal of a number of encroachments from the port area were also discussed. Developing plans including dredging to enhance depths, import and export terminal, electrification and maintenance of port facilities were explained in detail including measures already taken to facilitate the trade. These included box rates, swing around charges, movement of dangerous cargo by road, transhipment schemes and berthing of deeper barge vessels.

The PSAA members appreciated the efforts being made by the KPT to make Karachi port a modern, user-friendly utility.