ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Maritime Affairs has started a vigorous diplomatic campaign for winning the elections for International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Category C being held next year.
IMO is a specialised agency of the United Nations responsible for regulating and ensuring the safety and security of shipping. According to the ministry, after 1991, the present government has decided to take part in the elections of IMO. In this regard, diplomats and ambassadors were briefed here about the ‘Blue Economy’ vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi said that last year, he went to the IMO and it was for the first time that any Pakistani minister had delivered a speech there. He informed the diplomats that Pakistan would contest elections for Category C at IMO next year.
The briefing was attended by diplomats and ambassadors of Bahrain, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
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Speaking on the occasion, the federal minister said that Pakistan has no shortage of resources and efforts were being underway to bring prosperity with good governance. He said the Blue Economy concept was introduced by the current government’ for the first time.
The minister said that after becoming the minister, he desired to bring prosperity through ports in Karachi. He said that for the first time in country history, the present government was giving top priority to the ports and sea trade.
He said that a new shipping policy was being announced which would bring development in the private sector and will lead to registration of shipping companies and help in job security of seafarers. He said that the seafarers’ data was being digitized adding that they were highly qualified but required the support of all countries to resolve the issue related to seafarers’ visa.
The minister further said that Port Qasim and Karachi Port would be connected through modern bus service. He said that his ministry also providing its support to Balochistan province for the promotion of coastal tourism.
