The Pakistan Ship Agents Association (PSAA) has rejected the recent increase in freight rates announced by the shipping lines and termed it detrimental for achieving export targets set by the government. Captain Rashid Abro, Vice Chairman, PSAA in a statement issued here said, " due to non-existent role of our own shipping lines and indifferent attitude of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, foreign shipping lines have monopolised the freight business and increase in freight arbitrarily is the order of the day.
Pakistan exports were already suffering due to high cost of doing business, as utilities were more expensive as compared with the competitors. He said the Non-Vessel-Owner-Container Carriers (NVOCC) uncontrolled by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping were mushrooming and added that importers and exporters were equally suffering due to excessive charges on account of documentation, etc.
The increase in freight rates announced by foreign lines was totally unjustified as the charter hire rates world wide of container vessels were on decline and bunker prices were also showing signs of weakness, he added.
Captain Abro requested the Prime Minister to instruct Minister of Ports and Shipping to take immediate steps for regulating freight rates.
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