KARACHI: Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo, President FPCCI, has proposed to Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Commerce and Customs to work together with Pakistan Shippers' Council (PSC) of FPCCI for setting up a Shipping Rates Advisory Board (SRAB) to help protect the shippers and freight forwarders of the country from historically and unprecedentedly high shipping and freight charges, coupled with unavailability of shipping containers and container ships.
He said that the current situation is the result of extremely challenging times for shipping and logistics over the past two years due to COVID-19 and lack of adequate government support mechanism.
Maggo, as President FPCCI, has extended his full support to Pakistan Shippers' Council (PSC) and Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) from the platform of FPCCI and expressed his optimism that FPCCI's voice will be heard by all relevant ministries and departments.
FPCCI Chief has welcomed a high-profile and well-attended meeting of PSC and PIFFA at FPCCI aimed at finding solutions to multiplied shipping and freight charges and has proposed that a Shipping Rates Advisory Board (SRAB) should be formed; which should be powerful and include all stakeholders.
Rasheed Janmohammed, Chairman Pakistan Shippers' Council (PSC) of FPCCI, said that once the Container Release Order (CRO) has been issued by any shipping line, they should not be able to cancel it; and, if they do, they should also bear the damages to the shippers.
PSC Chairman also said that shipping lines are charging unfair exchange rates and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) should effectively regulate them and exchange rates should be fixed on the basis of Export General Manifest (EGM). Rasheed Janmohammed expressed his concerns over delayed clearance of containers from ports and noted that Customs Rules of Clearance that set a 30-day limit are also not implemented.
Mian Nasser Hyatt Maggo has suggested that Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) should come forward and fill the vacuum by taking up feeder services in the region on a large-scale. This will also support the government's vision of achieving a high growth rate in country's exports, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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