Pakistan Customs has achieved a historic and industry-wide breakthrough by ensuring the
application of official bank exchange rates for shipping charges, effectively ending the long-
standing practice of arbitrary and excessive billing by international shipping lines.
The All-Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA), through a formal communication on 12 January
2026, has confirmed that all member shipping lines are now charging shipping fees strictly on
the basis of exchange rates provided by their respective authorized commercial banks, in
accordance with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) regulations.
This decisive development follows sustained engagement by a high-level committee constituted
by Pakistan Customs, which held extensive consultations with shipping agents, terminal
operators, trade bodies, and international shipping lines. As a key milestone, Maersk—the
largest shipping line operating in Pakistan and handling nearly 26 percent of the country’s total
cargo—earlier began applying official bank exchange rates, setting a benchmark for the rest of
the industry.
Written confirmations of compliance have been received from major international shipping lines
and their local agents, including Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express (ONE), COSCO
Shipping, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), OOCL, and United Marine
Agencies, among others, establishing full industry-wide adherence to SBP-compliant exchange
rates.
For several years, traders and exporters had raised serious concerns regarding the arbitrary
application of inflated dollar exchange rates by shipping lines, often far exceeding SBP-notified
rates. This practice significantly increased the cost of doing business, adversely impacted
export competitiveness, and created uncertainty in shipping charges.
The initiative is expected to substantially reduce cost pressures on traders and exporters,
improve transparency and predictability in shipping charges, and restore confidence within the
business community.
This achievement underscores FBR’s firm commitment to safeguarding legitimate trade,
promoting ease of doing business, and supporting Pakistan’s export-led economic growth
through effective regulatory oversight and stakeholder engagement.
