The Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) has urged the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to arrange Pakistani vessel to transport rice export consignments.
Reap vice-chairman M. Anwar Mianoor said here on Monday that a monopoly of foreign container lines has created problem for rice exporters as they were raising freight unilaterally.
He said that container lines have recently raised freight charges for Sri Lanka from $250 to $325 per container.
It may be noted that Sri Lanka has removed duty on the import of rice, a move that has allowed Pakistani rice exporter to get maximum share in this market, he added. Mianoor said that the PNSC should arrange a Pakistani flag vessel on war footing to enable Pakistani exporters to ship their rice to Colombo.
He pointed out that Pakistani exporters have booked rice orders with Sri Lankan traders at the rate of $250 per 20 feet container. Now the increase of $65 per container has upset calculations and exporters will sustain losses due to this unilateral increase, he added.
He also urged the authorities in Pakistan to intervene and ask foreign shipping lines to withdraw unilateral increase in the freight and save exporters from losses.
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