With the objective of reducing the cost of doing business, the Minister for Maritime Affairs has taken the decision to stop the private container terminal operators from charging the unjustified levy of scanning fee in respect of containers that are not subjected to scanning. The Private Container Terminals operating at the KPT and PQA were levying scanning charges of five dollars on each and every container handled by them though near 1 percent of import and 1.5 percent of export contains actually underwent scanning. The levy of such charges without the use of scanning services was an undue burden on the local business and increased the cost of doing businesses, therefore, detrimental to the national economy. In addition, the levy of such charges was neither covered under any statute nor by the contracts executed between the two port authorities and the terminal operators. Levy of scanning charges, especially in respect of containers, which are not subjected to scanning also defies commercial rationale and business sense. On the contrary, no scanning charges are being levied at Gwadar Port by China Overseas Ports Holding Co. Ltd (COPHCL). Hence, in view of the above circumstances, the Minister for Maritime Affairs, Syed Ali Haider Zaidi directed the port authorities to instruct the private container terminals to cease charging the fee on containers not selected for scanning. *** ?
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