By SKM
April 15, 2026
ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has welcomed the government’s decision to slash port scanning charges on export containers — but warned that the move risks being ineffective unless extended to imports feeding the export sector.
In a communication to customs authorities, APTMA termed the 50% reduction in export container scanning charges a “positive but incomplete” intervention, arguing that it fails to address the full cost structure faced by exporters.
Earlier this month, Pakistan Customs, in coordination with the National Logistics Cell, reduced scanning charges to $10.5 for FEUs (Forty-foot Equivalent Units) and $7.5 for TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units), effective April 1, 2026. The measure is aimed at easing pressure on exporters dealing with port congestion and an increasingly competitive global market.
However, APTMA has flagged a critical policy gap: the continued high cost of scanning import containers carrying raw materials for export-oriented industries.
“Half the Problem Still Untouched”
The textile body stressed that a significant share of Pakistan’s exports depends on imported inputs, which are processed locally and shipped abroad as finished goods. By excluding these imports from the relief, the government may be undercutting its own export facilitation efforts.
“Imported raw materials used by export-oriented industries are essentially temporary imports tied to export production,” APTMA noted, calling for parity in treatment to reduce overall cost pressures.
Industry observers say the current policy risks becoming a half-measure, offering limited relief while leaving upstream costs intact. “Reducing export-side charges alone does not significantly improve competitiveness if input costs remain elevated,” a senior industry source said.
Congestion and Cost Pressures Persist
APTMA acknowledged that the reduction comes at a time when port congestion and logistics bottlenecks continue to strain exporters — issues largely beyond their control. While the cut in scanning fees provides some breathing space, exporters argue that structural inefficiencies and high input costs still weigh heavily on margins.
The association has urged authorities to take an integrated view of the export supply chain, warning that piecemeal measures may fail to deliver meaningful gains in competitiveness.
Call for Urgent Policy Response
APTMA has called for an early decision on extending the reduced rates to import containers linked to export production, emphasizing that such a move would directly lower input costs and support exporters operating in a tight global market.
The customs directive has already been circulated to major terminal operators, including Karachi International Container Terminal, Karachi Gateway Terminal, South Asia Pakistan Terminals, and DP World’s Qasim International Container Terminal, with instructions to implement the reduced rates.
As Pakistan pushes to boost exports and stabilize its external account, industry leaders say the focus must shift from selective relief to comprehensive cost rationalization — or risk losing ground to more competitive regional players.
Ends
