ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) is considering starting passenger cum cargo ferry service in the country. In this regard, PNSC is willing to explore almost all the available water routes.
Arrangements to launch a ferry service from Karachi to Pasni, Gwadar and Chabahar, Iran, were in final stages. The proposed service would be a competitive one because the government had waived off port charges for the next 14 years for ferry services.
PNSC is the national flag carrier managing a fleet of 9 vessels. The Corporation’s head office is located in Karachi. A regional office based in Lahore caters for upcountry shipping requirements. The Corporation also has an extensive overseas network of agents looking after its worldwide shipping business.
An official source privy to Minister for Ports and Shipping, told Customs Today that PNSC was willing to launch ferry service both the passenger and goods on Karachi-Gwadar including Pasni and Ormara, Karachi to Port Qasim Authority (PQA) as well as any other commercially viable place in national interest.
The source said that once the ferry service through rivers and other viable routes would be started, it save foreign exchange of millions of dollars as well as freight time for the shipment of the cargo containers would also be reduced.
“In this regard, the source said that massive and comprehensive network of canals and rivers from South to North and North to South west provides a glowing opportunity for the consumers to benefit from it throughout the year” the source added.
To a question, the source said that the existing network of canals and rivers in the country could also be beneficial for Chinese freight companies for the shipment of their goods in shortest possible time through ferry service from North to South.
“This network can be used adeptly, till the completion and operationalization of roads and infrastructure related projects associated to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)” the source maintained adding that it was the dire need of the hour, that the government should highlight the potential of rivers and canals of the country for this purpose.
