Businessmen decry hike in terminal charges

KARACHI: Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Senior Vice President (SVP) Saquib Fayyaz Magoon has said that the business, trade and industrial community is in a state of shock and disbelief at a threefold increase in container terminal charges. The terminal fee has gone up since Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) took over the management of the container terminal at Karachi Port’s East Wharf. Previously, the charges were Rs150 per tonne but now they have been raised to Rs480 per tonne, he said, according to a statement released by the FPCCI on Tuesday. He demanded that KGTL rationalise the container terminal rates with immediate effect and any future increase should be announced two to three months in advance. Additionally, they should not act unilaterally without engaging in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.