Pakistan, June 20 -- ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to lease additional ships in order to strengthen its fleet and reduce heavy sea trade losses.

During a high-level meeting on Friday, the prime minister reviewed the current operations of PNSC. The session was attended by Economic Affairs Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and senior PNSC officials.

Officials briefed the prime minister that the PNSC currently operates ten ships with a combined cargo capacity of 724,643 tons. However, the limited number of vessels has forced Pakistan to rely on foreign shipping services, costing the economy around $4 billion every year.

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