KARACHI, April 8: Towel Manufacturers' Association of Pakistan (TMA) chairman Syed Usman Ali has criticized shipping lines for increasing freight charges for Canada and South America. In a statement issued on Thursday, the TMA chief said that freight hike by APL would hurt country's textile exports that faced tough competition in the world market.

He pointed out that the APL had increased freight for Pakistan, Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Columbia while other countries of the world will continue to enjoy old freight rates. Above all shipping companies calling at country's ports continue to charge Pakistan Port Surcharge, which the government had declared unjust and illegal, he added.

He urged upon the APL to immediately withdraw the freight hike because it was damaging country's external trade and has direct bearing on prices of finished goods. The TMA chief also requested the FPCCI and the ministry of communications to persuade the APL to withdraw this increase.