LAHORE:
Reforms are well underway in the maritime sector and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will achieve its targets soon, announced Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi.
Speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Friday, he said that powers had been transferred to provinces after the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which created a number of issues.
“Fishery is the third largest trading sector in the world, but Pakistan’s exports in this area are negligible despite having all the required resources,” he said.
Zaidi pointed out that 90% of the revenue collected by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) came from ports. He added that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs was connected with all the other ministries because a majority of trade was done through ports.
The minister lamented that Pakistan had just one terminal to handle coal, adding that the Pakistan Steel Mills’ terminal had not been functioning for a long time.
He pointed out that the cost of containers increased due to growing demand and announced that negotiations on Port Qasim agreements were underway.
Targeted policies were being drafted by the government that could be followed by future generations, he said.
“We are improving efficiency rapidly through reforms.”
Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Minister for Industries Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the government maintained a strong liaison with the business community, which could be gauged from the fact that the businessmen had easy access to the government and the ministers.
LCCI President Mian Tariq Misbah regretted the violation of rules by the shipping companies, which resulted in delays and additional demurrage charges for the businessmen.
He demanded the rationalisation of terminal handling charges, port storage charges and container detention charges, which had soared in recent times.
The LCCI president appreciated the federal minister for addressing the issue of delivery order, which led to delay of one to two days in its issuance and over-charging by shipping companies (varying between Rs20,000 and Rs50,000).
Misbah appreciated the introduction of a new shipping policy by the government, which gave first berthing rights to the vessels registered in Pakistan along with tremendous incentives pertaining to customs duty, sales tax, income tax and concessionary financing from the State Bank.
He hoped that the private sector would make great use of the incentives and enter into shipping business
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