Karachi: Khurram Ijaz, foreign trade and logistics expert and former Vice President Federation Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), has strongly condemned what he termed the “unjust and exploitative practices” of port authorities and shipping lines, as exporters face mounting demurrage and detention charges on consignments stranded in the wake of the Iran war fallout.
Khurram Ijaz said exporters had fulfilled all obligations—payments cleared, bookings confirmed, and containers delivered to ports well before the escalation of regional tensions in late February. Yet, with vessel operations disrupted, shipments remained stuck at terminals. “It is highly unjustified that exporters are now being penalized for delays entirely beyond their control,” he asserted.
Calling the situation, a clear case of Force Majeure, Ijaz argued that imposing financial penalties is both legally and morally indefensible. He criticized the lack of a coordinated response, noting that shipping lines and port operators have adopted a case‑to‑case approach that breeds uncertainty and opens the door to arbitrary decision‑making. “This is not a discretionary matter—it requires a categorical policy directive,” he emphasized.
The trade expert urged the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Federal Board of Revenue(FBR) to intervene immediately, directing all terminals and shipping lines to waive demurrage, detention, and container rent for consignments that reached ports between February 24 and March 10, particularly those bound for Middle Eastern destinations. He further suggested that if operators cannot absorb the costs, the government should consider a temporary compensation mechanism to protect exporters.
Ijaz warned that Pakistan’s credibility in international markets is at stake. Exporters, he noted, are already grappling with high energy tariffs, rising logistics expenses, and shrinking global demand. Burdening them further with unjustified charges, he cautioned, will only deepen their financial stress and discourage exports.
“At this critical juncture, the priority must be to facilitate exporters—not penalize them for circumstances entirely beyond their control,” Khurram Ijaz concluded.