Minister for shipping tie-up with Dhaka

Underscores joint container and bulk services, technical training programmes

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed the establishment of a formal cooperation framework between Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation to deepen maritime collaboration between the two countries.

The proposal, presented during a meeting in London with Dr M Sakhawat Hussain, Adviser for Shipping of Bangladesh, envisions a comprehensive partnership encompassing joint container and bulk shipping services, technical training programmes, cooperation in maritime safety and seafarer development, reciprocal port-call facilitation, and strengthened diplomatic and technical engagement at senior levels. Chaudhry requested Bangladesh's support for Pakistan in the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Category C elections, reaffirming Islamabad's commitment to reciprocate.

"Pakistan will positively support Bangladesh's request for support in the IMO Category C elections," he stated, signalling an intention to enhance bilateral coordination across multilateral forums.

The minister underscored Pakistan's broader goal of building cooperative frameworks with Bangladesh at platforms such as the IMO, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on seafarer-related matters and relevant regional maritime groupings.

Enhanced coordination, he emphasised, would bolster the ability of both countries to shape global maritime policy and safeguard shared interests in shipping, port development and seafarer welfare.