Rice exporters have expressed concern on sudden increase in the transportation charges by the transporters. They shared their concern at a meeting hurriedly-called by Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan's senior vice chairman Rafique Suleman on Thursday to discuss the exorbitant increase in transportation charges.
The exporters opposed the higher fares by the transporters and said that during the year of 2013 the average prices of diesel were Rs 115 to Rs 120 and then they had increased the charges as per the ratio of the increase in fuel charges. They said that diesel prices had been declining many a times since then but the transporters did not pass any relief to the exporters and other traders in the meantime.
Suleman said that now the diesel prices are Rs 113 to Rs 114 per litre but transporters have increased the charges by 45 percent which is completely unjustified. For example: charges for the route of Port Qasim to SITE were Rs 9,000 and revised charges are Rs 13,0000 and charges for the route of Karachi Port to SITE were Rs 6,500 that and now have been revised to Rs 8,000.
He emphasized that rice export trade is the largest sector which is using the services of transporters but transporters did not take REAP on board and without any consultation they suddenly increased the charges, excessively. He said that export sectors of the country were already facing severe hardships and many domestic and international challenges, this increase would badly disturb the whole trade. He appealed to the Ministries of Commerce, Finance, Ports & Shipping and Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry to take notice of said hike and take steps to make these charges on a normal limit, so that all stakeholders of the trade may be saved from losses.
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