Minister demands accountability for neglected workers

Criticises maritime organisations for negligence, delaying tactics

KARACHI:

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance of maritime organisations and reprimanded top officials for neglecting the needs of lower-ranking staff and delaying the resolution of genuine concerns.

Sheikh made these remarks while presiding over a Khuli Kachehri (open forum) held at the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) building on Saturday evening. The forum was organised to gather first-hand information about complaints and grievances from stakeholders and officials within the maritime industry. This open platform allowed officials to directly engage with the minister, sharing their concerns and suggestions for revamping the sector.

During the session, Sheikh instructed top officers not to prevent any complainants from directly addressing him with genuine issues. He issued immediate orders to resolve various matters, including withheld salaries, appointments, mismanagement, and governance issues. The minister criticised the officers for using delaying tactics and warned that their excessive behaviour was unacceptable.

He assured stakeholders that their voices would be heard without discrimination and that their issues would be addressed immediately. Special directives were issued to prioritise these problems so that complainants could receive timely relief.

A large number of officials from various maritime organisations, including the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), Marine Fisheries Department (MFD), and Korangi Fish Harbour Authority (KoHFA), filled the conference hall.

Earlier in the day, the minister chaired a performance review meeting to assess the progress and achievements of key maritime organisations. During this meeting, he reviewed each organisation's performance, focusing on successes, challenges, and areas for improvement. The minister focused on enhancing efficiency, productivity, and service delivery within the maritime sector to enable it to play a more significant role in the country's economy.