KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed the establishment of a formal cooperation framework between the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to deepen maritime collaboration between the two countries.
The proposal, presented during a meeting in London with Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, Adviser for Shipping of Bangladesh, envisions a comprehensive partnership encompassing joint container and bulk shipping services, technical training programmes, cooperation on maritime safety and seafarer development, reciprocal port-call facilitation, and strengthened diplomatic and technical engagement at senior levels.
Minister Chaudhry conveyed warm greetings from Pakistan and requested Bangladesh’s support for Pakistan in the International Maritime Organization (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, signaling an intention to enhance bilateral coordination across multilateral forums.
The minister emphasized Pakistan’s broader goal of building cooperative frameworks with Bangladesh at platforms such as the IMO, the International Labour Organization (ILO) on seafarer-related matters, and relevant regional maritime groupings.
Enhanced coordination, he argued, would bolster the ability of both countries to shape global maritime policy and safeguard shared interests in shipping, port development, and seafarer welfare.
Junaid Chaudhry also reiterated Pakistan’s earlier offer to make Karachi Port Trust (KPT) facilities available for Bangladeshi cargo, recalling commitments made during previous high-level exchanges.
He highlighted KPT’s expanding capacity, ongoing modernization initiatives, and improved turnaround times as evidence of Pakistan’s readiness to support regional trade flows.
The minister said closer port-to-port collaboration could ease logistics challenges, reduce regional bottlenecks, and open new avenues for commercial integration across South Asia.
To sustain momentum, Junaid Chaudhry proposed launching a Pakistan–Bangladesh Maritime Dialogue, a structured platform for regular discussions on port development, shipping sector cooperation, the blue economy, fisheries, and other emerging maritime issues. He underscored Pakistan’s commitment to a long-term, transparent, and mutually beneficial maritime partnership with Bangladesh.
Both sides agreed to work toward strengthening maritime cooperation in support of regional stability, economic growth, and shared prosperity. The meeting concluded with a mutual pledge to maintain momentum in bilateral engagements and explore practical steps for implementing the proposed initiatives.
