Sail through: Hajj ship service to be launched, says minister
Ports and shipping ministry decides to run service from next Hajj season.
Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael (C). PHOTO: PPI
LAHORE:
The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has decided to run a ship service to provide economical transport to pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah and also to visitors of religious places in Iran.
Kamran Michael, the federal minister for ports and shipping, told Daily Express that the Hajj service will only charge Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 to take the pilgrims to the holy land. The service will begin from the next Hajj season after the prime minister’s approval, he announced.
He said that it costs about Rs300,000 for a Pakistani pilgrim to perform Hajj, which is difficult for a common person. “Therefore, the government has decided to economise the holy journey,” he explained.
He said the ministry was acquiring fast-moving craft from Europe that will get Hajj service passengers to Saudi Arabia in six days. The service will also provide food to the pilgrims.
The minister said the plan includes cargo service to and from the Middle East and negotiations with immigrations and customs is in progress to execute the idea.
He said that after the Hajj service becomes operational, the ministry will then start an additional service for the devotees going to Iran, which will help some people avoid travelling through Balochistan. The pilgrim route via Balochistan has come under attack recently.
‘Missing’ containers
Michael said the theft of containers scandal also surfaced soon after he took charge and the Supreme Court has set up an investigating commission after taking a suo motu notice.
The ministry is planning to introduce an IT database system at all the ports of the country so that the theft of containers can be curbed. A tracking chip will be attached to every container that landed on the port, he explained.
Industrial zone
An industrial zone has been set up at Port Qasim where 3,000 industrial units will be established. A coal plant will be built that will produce 500 MW of electricity and make Port Qasim self-sufficient in electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2014.
The Ministry of Ports and Shipping has decided to run a ship service to provide economical transport to pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah and also to visitors of religious places in Iran.
Kamran Michael, the federal minister for ports and shipping, told Daily Express that the Hajj service will only charge Rs25,000 to Rs30,000 to take the pilgrims to the holy land. The service will begin from the next Hajj season after the prime minister’s approval, he announced.
He said that it costs about Rs300,000 for a Pakistani pilgrim to perform Hajj, which is difficult for a common person. “Therefore, the government has decided to economise the holy journey,” he explained.
He said the ministry was acquiring fast-moving craft from Europe that will get Hajj service passengers to Saudi Arabia in six days. The service will also provide food to the pilgrims.
The minister said the plan includes cargo service to and from the Middle East and negotiations with immigrations and customs is in progress to execute the idea.
He said that after the Hajj service becomes operational, the ministry will then start an additional service for the devotees going to Iran, which will help some people avoid travelling through Balochistan. The pilgrim route via Balochistan has come under attack recently.
‘Missing’ containers
Michael said the theft of containers scandal also surfaced soon after he took charge and the Supreme Court has set up an investigating commission after taking a suo motu notice.
The ministry is planning to introduce an IT database system at all the ports of the country so that the theft of containers can be curbed. A tracking chip will be attached to every container that landed on the port, he explained.
Industrial zone
An industrial zone has been set up at Port Qasim where 3,000 industrial units will be established. A coal plant will be built that will produce 500 MW of electricity and make Port Qasim self-sufficient in electricity.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2014.