Liabilities and Claims against Local Shipping Agents under the Laws of Pakistan

Dr. Adeel Abid; Dr. Tansif Ur Rehman; Ahmer Jamil Khan

doi:10.5281/

Authors

Dr. Adeel Abid Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan; and Assistant Professor, Department of Law, DIHE, Karachi, Pakistan Author
Dr. Tansif Ur Rehman Teaching Associate, Department of Sociology, University of Karachi, Pakistan; and Visiting Faculty, Department of Law, Dadabhoy Institute of Higher Education, Pakistan Author
Ahmer Jamil Khan Advocate in the High Court of Sindh, Pakistan Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/

Keywords:

Co-Extensive, Customs Penalty, Declaration, Disbursement, Indemnity, Shipping Agents

Abstract

This paper explores the liability of shipping agents in Pakistan, investigating whether it is independent or co-extensive with their principals. It examines if local shipping agents are responsible for claims related to damage or short delivery of cargo established against their principals. The study highlights the agent's role in filing declarations under Pakistani Customs laws to discharge such claims. Additionally, it clarifies that agents are liable for shortages if established against the vessel owner after departure from a Pakistani port. Judicial decisions affirm that the shipping owner's and agent's liabilities are co-extensive. The paper dismisses a claim excluding shipping owners from a suit and recommends measures to safeguard the interests of ship owners, managers, local agents, and the industry at large.