Pakistan's entire trade can only be freed from the chronic captivity of foreign shipping lines if the government injects some vigour into the arm of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) or develop shipping industry in the private sector, said the Chairman of Pakistan Shippers Council, Rasheed Janmohammad, here on Monday.
He said that Pakistan's export trade is uncompetitive and import trade is paralysed for over a decade due to numerous charges being levied by foreign shipping lines which can never be done away with through the efforts of the private sector shippers or the government itself.
The shippers, he said, have now given up all hopes, and the trade is suffering heavily on account of these charges. The government is sitting silent and the shippers are losing money in foreign exchange, he added.
It is learnt that about Rs 2 billion per annum is recovered by shipping lines in the shape of port surcharge, terminal handling charges, etc which are unjustified. In spite of all efforts by the shippers and the Government the shipping lines have turned a deaf ear.
During the past decade about Rs 10 billion has found way to foreign countries through shipping lines.
Rasheed said that now the only cure of the sick trade in Pakistan is either to revive the PNSC or help the private sector in shipping industry to set up new companies.
This is not an easy job to do by the Government but it is the only answer to the unjustified attitude adopted by the shipping lines, he said. PNSC is existing in name only, he added.
The exploiting shipping lines are fully cogzinant of our handicap and they are certain that Pakistan can be made to pay any levy imposed on Pakistan's trade.
Rasheed said that the shipping lines have defied all rules on the earth. Therefore, it was high time for Pakistan government to come forward and save trade which has been damaged ad infinitum.
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