African states: Rice exporters charter vessels for shipments

KARACHI: In order to ensure the timely delivery of export consignments, rice exporters have initiated export shipments through chartered bulk vessels for African countries as there is shortage of containers for export of goods.

Exporters Association of Pakistan (Reap) for the last few weeks is raising a voice for timely availability of containers, however, the issue is still not resolved. In order to ensure the timely shipment of export orders, rice exporters have sent rice shipments of some 38,000 metric tons through chartered a bulk vessel namely MV EPROVI for African countries.

Muhammad Anwar Mianoor, Senior Vice Chairman (REAP) along with other rice exporters visited Port Qasim Terminal to witness the loading of rice on bulk vessel. On the occasion, Former Chairmen REAP Abdul Rahim Janoo, Rafique Suleman, Irfan Shaikh, Safdar Mehkri, Abdul Qayyum Paracha, Rasheed Jan Muhammad as well as Members Managing Committee Deepak Kumar Advani, Asif Ali Shaikh, Mahesh Raja Manglani, former Anis Majeed, Faisal Anis, and a large number of rice exporters were also present during this meeting

On the occasion, Anwar Mianoor said that the rice export sector is facing many challenges and container availability is one of the most burning issues of the time due to which rice exporters are facing severe hurdles in exporting Pakistani rice to around the globe. Therefore, rice exporters have chartered a bulk vessel destined for African countries, he added.

“We are putting our utmost efforts to increase rice exports from Pakistan and this is one of the example,” he said. He appealed to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to formulate a doable policy which will be in favor of Pakistan’s export sectors and get it implemented at the earliest.

He informed that the Ministry of Commerce has already sent letters to Secretary Maritime Affairs to seek suitable solutions at the earliest to resolve the prevailing issues.

Senior Vice Chairman Reap alleged that shipping lines are getting very high freight charges and unduly demanding huge demurrages. In addition, they are also asking charges for shut out and rollover which is totally unjustified.

He requested the Ministry of Maritimes Affairs to solve these issues on a top priority basis so exporters can fulfill their foreign commitments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022