Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the relevant authorities to acquire ships on lease to expand the fleet of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC).
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, this development emerged during a review meeting held in Islamabad regarding the affairs of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.
Chairing the session, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that the shortage of ships in the PNSC fleet forces the country to spend $4 billion annually from the national treasury on maritime trade.
On this occasion, the Prime Minister requested a business plan for the PNSC and directed that it be submitted within two weeks.
The plan must include a comprehensive roadmap offering an effective strategy to eliminate the annual burden of $4 billion on the treasury.
During a briefing on PNSC’s performance, it was revealed that the corporation currently operates ten vessels of various types, with a total cargo capacity of 724,643 tons.
The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation is the country’s national flag carrier, primarily engaged in the international transportation of dry and liquid cargo.
The organization was established in 1979 through the merger of the National Shipping Corporation and the Pakistan Shipping Corporation. The PNSC operates under the administrative control of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Government of Pakistan.
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