PPA seeks 80pc waiver on Payra Port charges

Rezaul Karim | Published: May 13, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Payra Port Authority (PPA) has sought 80 per cent waiver on Payr Port use and other charges for the next two years from the government to encourage importers use the port, officials said.
The port authority has recently submitted a proposal to National Board of Revenue (NBR) in this regard, they added.
Import cost through the port will increase, if the different government-set charges are duly realised from now, as the new port is not fully developed yet, according to the PPA proposal.
The government authorities concerned are working on the issue. But no decision has been taken so far in this regard, said the officials concerned.
"We have proposed the government to waive port use and other charges for more making Payra Port attractive," PPA member (admin and finance) M Rafiul Hasan told the FE on Wednesday.
"Presently, the country's importers release their goods through Chittagong or other ports. We are taking different moves so that they use Payra port in future."
If the government reduces the charges to use Payra Port, import cost will decline, and the importers will be encouraged to release goods through it, he added. Â
Earlier, PPA sat with the importers and ship-owners several times. They showed interest to release goods through the new port.
A decision was taken to release goods from bulk ships through the port in February 2016. Later, the decision has been changed.
According to the existing rules, some Tk 27.30 will be charged for per 1,000 kg imported goods through the port.
Some Tk 326.40 and Tk 652.80 will be realized as charge for per container, below 21-feet length and over 21-feet length respectively, by PPA. Â
M Rafiul Hasan said PPA hopes to begin operational activities of the port in November or December. Work on improving some facilities for the port is now going on. Primarily, about Tk 11.28 billion has been spent for the port.
It will be possible to send imported goods easily from the outer anchorage of Payra Port to Dhaka, Narayanganj, Khulna, Barisal and other places without waiting for high and low tides. Similarly, it will be possible to send export goods to any country, said officials concerned.
Â Â Â rezamumu@gmail.com