Key issue of long overstayed containers need to be addressed promptly
Interview with Mr. Abdullah Farrukh — CEO, Pak Shaheen Freighters (Pvt) Ltd
PAGE: Give us a bit background of your company and group; how it started and carried its work forward?
Abdullah Farrukh: Since its inception in 1981, the Pak Shaheen Group has attained a vanguard position as Pakistan’s leading integrated multi-service business conglomerate. It is primarily a logistics service provider group involved in various businesses i.e. Ship Agency, Project Logistics, Air Cargo, Ocean Freight, NVOCC, Land Transport, Off Dock Terminals, Chartering & Brokerage and Travel & Tours and has offices in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan.
As a Group, our operations are through Karachi Port, Port Bin Qasim, Lahore Dry Port, Faisalabad Dry Port and every sea port and airport in Pakistan. Thus, our area of operations touches every mode of transportation with every kind of haulage. Be it air, sea or land, we find a dynamic presence in the country’s maritime operations and related activities.
PAGE: While operating on the port, what facilities or difficulties do you usually encounter?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â The main issue being faced by the shipping companies is the issue of long overstayed containers which is pending since several years.
PAGE: As the member of the All Pakistan Shipping Association, what is your outlook on the shipping industry of Pakistan?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â The future of shipping industry in Pakistan depends on the macroeconomic stability and growth of export-oriented industries.
PAGE: How do you see the growth of your company in view of the growth of the Pakistani trade?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â Pak Shaheen Group will benefit from the growth of Pakistani trade in so far as the pace of export will result in faster movement of goods and will thus provide impetus for higher revenue earnings.
PAGE: How do you see the freight expense for Pakistani trade? And any proposal or suggestion you would like to give?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â The freight expenses are dependent on market forces and in a free economy the rates are determined by the principle of supply and demand.
PAGE: How do you see the performance of Pakistani ports vis a vis other regional ports, where do you think we are lacking in this regard?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â More efficient use of port facilities, together with improvements in the scale of operations are the main drivers of increasing performance of regional ports.
PAGE: The movement of cargo is being controlled by international foreign lines which monopolize the trade through heavy freight rates. How shipping industry can find its way in this situation?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â Owing to mismatch between supply capacity and demand the global demand for seaborne trade remains uncertain and therefore freight rates continue to be determined by the way of supply capacity management.
PAGE: How do you see the CPEC and its progress?
Abdullah Farrukh:Â With the advent of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the maritime commercial traffic will rise in the region and will bring surge in investments through CPEC and China Port Holdings, which is developing port of Gwadar. It not only holds trade promise for Pakistan and China but also Central Asia and Euroasia.
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Profile
Since its inception in 1981, the Pak Shaheen Group has attained a vanguard position as Pakistan’s leading integrated multi-service business conglomerate. It is primarily a logistics service provider group involved in various businesses i.e. Ship Agency, Project Logistics, Air Cargo, Ocean Freight, NVOCC, Land Transport, Off Dock Terminals, Chartering & Brokerage and Travel & Tours and has offices in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Multan.
As a Group, our operations are through Karachi Port, Port Bin Qasim, Lahore Dry Port, Faisalabad Dry Port and every sea port and airport in Pakistan. Thus, our area of operations touches every mode of transportation with every kind of haulage. Be it air, sea or land, we find a dynamic presence in the country’s maritime operations and related activities.
Pak Shaheen Container Services
Pak Shaheen Container Services is a pioneer off dock terminal and operates two off dock terminals at Karachi Port and Port Qasim. We provide fully integrated services of Container Terminals Freight Stations (CFS) and are in a unique position of advantage. It is the largest common user of CFS and ICD at Karachi Port, Port Qasim and the Dry Ports at Lahore and Faisalabad.
Pak Shaheen Freighters
Improving air freight standards in the country has been the sole objective of Pak Shaheen Freighters (Pvt) Limited. The Company has laid down stringent quality standards in the level of service it offers to clientele. With such high standards, it is natural that the company be accredited to both IATA and FIATA. Since a nationwide presence is crucial to the business, Pak Shaheen Freighters has offices located strategically at Karachi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Southern Agencies
For two decades, Southern Agencies (Pvt) Limited has been operating as Liner and Ship Agents. The Company represented Compagnie Maritime D’Affretement (CMA), of CMA-CGM global group of France, one of the world’s largest and fourth largest in Europe for more than a decade. Currently the company has acquired the Agency of Samudera Shipping Lines, a Singapore based Shipping Line.
Pak Shaheen Aviation
Pak Shaheen Aviation (Pvt) Limited is an associate of the Pak Shaheen Group of Companies, which operates an array of transport and communication services. It is the travel arm of the group which was established in 1989 and received IATA recognition in 1992 (License No. 27-3 0091 0). The Universal Federation of Travel Agents association certified it and since then it has garnished various awards for the services rendered, including:
Pak Shaheen Agencies
Working as an independent organization, the Company is geared to cater to the diverse needs and requirements of various demanding clients and also to provide General Sales Agency Services to Foreign Carriers and Principals and as well as Joint Venture Projects. Being the sole agents of KALMAR in Pakistan, the Company has a well-entrenched, modern and efficient infrastructure to meet a diverse range of equipment requirements.
Transworld Cargo Dispatch Company
Stevedoring or docking operations all over the world has gained a special prominence. The level of standards demands the best in terms of skilled manpower and modern equipment. It’s also a question of getting the maximum in terms of time and output related to distance and operational scale of each and every assignment handled. Transworld Cargo Dispatch Company (Pvt) Limited operates with offices at Karachi Port and Port Bin Qasim.
Multi Modal Transport International
The concept of intermodal transportation of containers and goods is already an established one globally. In Pakistan, this form of transportation is very much in vogue. MTI (Pvt) Limited is the first land transportation company in the private sector to operate as a joint venture between the Pak Shaheen Group and Gulftainer. The Company is licensed by Pakistan Customs for transportation of containers and goods for import and export shipments, operating from Karachi to Dry Ports at Faisalabad, Lahore, Sialkot and Rawalpindi. The Company provides total services on door-to-door basis assuring customers of proper handling and safe movement of goods.
Keeping in view the multifarious businesses as specified above, we would welcome an opportunity to collaborate with companies from Italy in the same arena.