Afghan traders said on Thursday that they are not able to pay the high demurrage demanded by Pakistan transport companies for their containers stuck at the Karachi port.
Demurrage in this case refers to fees that the transporters can demand for the extra time the containers have been left in their charge. A letter sent from Pakistani transport companies to the Afghan traders has asked each Afghan company to pay over $185,000 demurrage to Pakistan.
“The [Afghan] government should be responsible to talk to Pakistan and stand against this cruelty,” Afghan trader Ahmad Shah said. “This is not acceptable for us. We are not able to pay. The government should take a decision,” a trader and member of the Egg and Meat Association said. The Afghan Commerce and Industries Minister said he will discuss this matter on Sunday with Pakistani officials on his official visit to the country. “I will share this issue in the session of commerce ministers which will be held in Pakistan on Sunday,” Anwarul-Haq Ahady said. Ministry officials added that the economic committee has decided that all Afghan containers stopped in Karachi port will be exempt from customs tax. About 3,700 containers have been stopped at the Karachi port for three months. The Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently claimed that Afghan traders were being fined for each day the containers remained at the port, amounting to $50 million in three months.
