ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping, unanimously recommended the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to vigorously pursue funding for all the projects related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The NA committee met here with Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah in the chair to discuss the updated status of all development projects of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and was informed that the government had waived off the taxes on new registration of ships.
Newly appointed Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, who made his maiden appearance before the committee, appreciated the efforts carried out by almost all the members of the House in getting the heavy taxes of 37 to 38 percent on registration of new ships waived off.
He further observed that heavy burden of taxes had pushed the shipping and associated industries towards the crisis like situation because both the domestic and international shipping lines avoided getting their ships registered with Pakistani registration authorities.
As a result, the Pakistani shipping industry was facing deficit and loss making situation” he maintained adding that now hopefully, in coming days Pakistani shipping industry will flourish by getting business from international shipping industry.
In this regard, he mentioned PNSC’s agreement with Sri Lanka, saying that PNSC was making good deal of business by increasing its working capacity as well as earning foreign exchange reserves by providing services to the international market.
In the beginning of the meeting, members of the standing committee warmly welcomed the new minister for Ports & Shipping, Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo. The Chairman Standing Committee Ghulam Mustafa Shah said that standing committees worked as ears and eyes of the ministries and it was the resolve of the members to help the ministry in getting over different kind of obstacles and hurdles.
The minister expressed his gratitude on the welcoming remarks and gave a detailed briefing about the updated status of work on development projects. He said that total 13 proposed major schemes of Ports & Shipping had been approved and included in the current budget 2016-17.
Naming the proposed projects he said that these projects included construction of Mehran Highway Phase-(III), Provision of Coal Conveying System from Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) to Railway Network at Port Qasim and up-gradation and accreditation of Quality Control Laboratories of MFD for Environment Contamination.
Other projects included the establishment of regional offices and testing laboratories of MFD at Gwadar, Balochistan, establishment of regional offices and testing laboratories of MFD at Peshawar KPK and purchase of full mission bridge and engine room simulators for PMA have been approved and included in the current budget 2016-17.
