KARACHI: Seeking to help exports beat rising global freight charges and supply chain shortages spawned by rerouted ships, the federal maritime ministry is exploring acquiring or chartering a special container vessel.
The draft bill was briefed to a three-member trade delegation representing the big names of the textile and apparel sectors in a meeting attended by the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
The delegation included:
Shahzad Asghar Ali, CEO of Style Textile
Benedikt Birner, Vice President of Global Adidas
Saqib Rafique, Senior Director of Sourcing Operations, Adidas
Syed Jarar Haider Kazmi, CEO, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) was connected through video link.
Rerouting Drives Up Costs for Pakistani Exporters
Trade representatives told the delegation that recently altered international maritime trade routes have tremendously increased the duration of transit and shipping costs to core markets of Europe and the United States.
Shipping connectivity to western destinations is deficient in Pakistan, putting Pakistani manufacturers at a disadvantage versus regional competitors who are shipping nearer markets.
PNSC Vessel Proposal & Joint Working Group
Responding to the trade issue, Maritime Minister Junaid Chaudhry said the PNSC would consider a purchase or chartering of a container ship to run export routes if there was guarantee by the export community to load it commercially.
To implement this strategy, the Minister has stated that a joint working group will be created.
