A1pakcargo

Menu

Category: cargo news

Posted on

CAA seeks end of UK ban after PIA resumes Europe

According to reports, the UK Department for Transport (DfT) intends to visit Pakistan in mid-January to investigate the situation. As part of the measures, PIA’s direct flights to the UK are scheduled to restart in February. A delegation from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will arrive in Karachi between January 15 and 17 for an inspection of security. The CAA has contacted the UK aviation authorities to request a leave from the security audit.

Why was PIA Banned from UK and Europe

PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) has faced various restrictions due to safety concerns and regulatory difficulties. In 2007, the European Union temporarily barred PIA from conducting various flights to Europe (EU airspace) due to complaints about the airline’s safety standards, regulatory monitoring, and the safety and maintenance standards of PIA’s aircraft and operations. The prohibition was removed in 2009 when PIA introduced novel security protocols and increased its safety record.

In 2007, the limitations applied only to PIA’s Boeing 747 aircraft, preventing them from flying into EU member states. The decision was based on an audit by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which revealed deficiencies in the PIA’s safety management systems and oversight. In 2007, the PIA EU blocklist restricted its ability to operate Boeing 777s in the EU. The embargo was imposed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of travelers traveling between and within EU member states.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) banned PIA’s authorization to fly to and from Europe for six months in June 2020, citing concerns about the legitimacy of Pakistani pilot licenses. Following the grounded flight of 262 Pakistani pilots, including The Resumption of PIA flights 141 PIA employees, it was discovered that they had obtained their licenses unlawfully.

In July 2020, several governments, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, banned PIA flight operations in their respective countries due to concerns over the authenticity of the pilot licenses. The prohibitions remain PIA’s banned in effect nearly two years after they were first imposed on Pakistan’s national flag carrier and all other aircraft operators.

The Resumption of PIA flights

“The PIA is committed to improving connection and ensuring convenient alternatives to travel for its passengers, both domestically and internationally,” said the spokesperson.

The restart came when the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) lifted the embargo, allowing PIA to resume PIA’s banned services in Europe and the UK.

The embargo was enforced when then-aviation minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan made a contentious statement shortly after the Karachi tragedy regarding the validity of Pakistani pilots, prompting the EASA to bar the airline from its most attractive routes in Europe and Britain.

Pakistan is attempting to privatize the airline, and the reinstatement of flights to Europe will likely aid the authorities in offloading the PIA.

How CAA is Advocating for the UK Ban to be Lifted

According to CAA sources, a delegation from the UK Department for Transport (DFT) will visit Pakistani in mid-January for PIA’s banned. PIA’s direct flight operations to the United Kingdom are set to restart in February. According to Express News, the UK Civil Aviation team is scheduled to land in Karachi on January 15-17, 2025.

PIA is preparing to resume operations in the United Kingdom, beginning with immediate flights to Manchester and then expanding to London and other places in the second phase. PIA will fly its Boeing 777 airplanes to Europe and the United Kingdom.

Air Vice Marshal Amir Hayat was previously reappointed as CEO of PIA, according to a notification provided by the Pakistani government. Hayat will operate as the CEO until a permanent appointment.

Benefits for businesses and travelers after Ban

This accomplishment is especially significant since it could boost PIA’s position in the following second bidding process, which would be a big step forward for Pakistan’s aviation industry.

However, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif praised the European Commission and European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) removal of PIA’s banned flights on Friday.

He stated that eliminating the prohibition would improve the PIA’s reputation and financial situation.

“This reflects the success of Pakistan’s strategies and it will additionally encourage air travel for Pakistanis living in Europe,” said the official.

Will the UK fully lift the Ban in 2025

According to the Urdu-language ARY News, a team from the UK Civil Aviation Authority traveled to Karachi International to perform a safety audit before deciding whether Pakistani carriers may restart flights to UK airports. The green light will A – Pakistan International Airlines (PK, Islamabad International), eager to resume flights there and earn hard currency through ticket sales.

Considering a series of incidents, including a false pilot license scam and the tragic crash of a PIA A320-200 near Karachi airport, PIA’s banned which killed 98 people, the US, UK, and EU all prohibited Pakistani airlines from flying scheduled flights to their airports.

The decision resulted in PIA losing around PKR84 billion rupees (USD301 million) in revenue annually. Much of that money came from desperately needed cash from ticket sales in those countries. The financial damage is regarded as one of the reasons for PIA’s continued losses.

Posted on

The Impact Of 2025 UK Port Charges On Cargo Shipment In Pakistan

uk 2025 port charges

This publication, headed “Port of London Authority Charges 2025,” takes effect on January 1, 2025, and will remain in effect until replaced. It contains the announced rates and charges for services the Port of London Authority supplies. It replaces the costs outlined in the publication “Port of London Authority Charges 2024,” which will expire on and after January 1, 2025. The regulations governing the charging and collecting of dues are outlined in “Port of London Authority Charges Terms and Conditions 2025” (“the Regulations.”

Overview of UK Port Charges in 2025

These Regulations specify the conditions under which the Port of London Authority’s (PLA) facilities and berths may be used. The Regulations further specify the conditions under which payments are due to the PLA and the accountability for those payments. The PLA’s rights and powers under these Terms and Conditions are in addition to, not in substitution for, the rights and powers conferred by statute, the Port of London Act 1968 (as amended), the PLA’s Byelaws, and the Directions, each of which takes importance over these Terms and Conditions in the event of any inconsistency.

Statutory Basis for Charges The PLA has a number of statutory rights to impose charges, including but not limited to:

Ship, passenger, and goods duties Section 26(2) of the Harbours Act 1964 grants the PLA the authority to impose “ship, passenger, and goods dues” as they see proper. Section 31 of the same Act allows the Secretary of State for Transport to object to this power. The PLA has an additional right to levy such dues as it thinks fit in respect of ‘any dracone or floating dock, crane rig, drilling rig, or other floating plant (not being a’ship’ within the more profound significance of the 1964 Act) that comes into or leaves the Port assigned in it by section 21(1) of the capital of London Act 1968.

Section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964 additionally grants the Secretary of State for Transport the discretion to oppose this power.

4 Non-payment of charges Section 39 of the Port of London Act 1968 allows the PLA to recover charges owed to it about a vessel by distraint and sale of the vessel and its appurtenances, as well as goods by prison and sale of the goods or any other goods within the Port is connected to the person/s liable for payment of the dues.

Other charges (excluding pilotage charges)

The PLA has a number of extra charging rights outlined in the local harbor legislation that applies to it, including the ability to charge for anything done or given by them under Section 21(2) of the Port of London Act 1968. There is no statutory right to protest such charges. However, Section 27 of the Harbours Act of 1964 requires that they be reasonable.

Pilotage Charges

Section 10 of the Pilotage Act 1987 grants the PLA, as Competent Harbour Authority (CHA), the authority to charge pilotage charges. Section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964 (as modified by section 10 of the Pilotage Act 1987) allows the Secretary of State for Transport to object to this power. The PLA reserves the right to design the sequence of pilotage/non-pilotage moves as instructed by the Harbour Master, taking into account ship size, tide conditions, and pilot availability. Items in this Appendix are subject to change and amendment at any moment.

How higher port charges affect cargo shipments to Pakistan

“The port charges range between $50,000 and $100,000 per ship, depending on the size of the ship and the number of days it spends downloading or uploading cargo at a port in the country,” said Pakistan Ship’s Agents Organization (PSAA) Chairman Mohammed Rajpar after attending the first meeting of the cabinet-appointed committee to rationalize port charges.

Port dues, pilotage in and out, pilotage charges, ship berthing, and storage are some of the most important port charges.

Freight costs have risen by 700% worldwide as a result of abnormal import growth following the reopening of global markets following COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdowns, according to previous reports.

According to reports, regional and international corporations have formed a cartel to impose unnecessarily high freight costs in an attempt to profit from the post-Covid situation. Pakistani exporters pay shipping companies $5-6 billion in foreign freight rates.

Rajper, on the other hand, said that the unusual spike in freight prices was a one-time occurrence unrelated to port expenses. They are two distinct things, he explained.

Rajper stated that the administration intends to rationalize port tariffs to facilitate corporate transactions. It is important to highlight that the actual price of doing business in the country has risen since the government raised power tariffs to meet the IMF’s $6 billion loan terms.

Future outlook

“During the discussion, options for rationalizing port charges in contrast to regional ports were discussed. To achieve ultimate port charge rationalization, all stakeholders may be required to lower charges. It would only be achievable if the available circumstances in both the ports and shipping sectors were considered equally,” according to a news release published by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

Rajper went on to say that the next stage is to collect relevant data and information to analyze how and from which headings the port charges might be rationalized, for which the panel will continue to meet.