ISLAMABAD: In the wake of important role of maritime transportation in the national economy, the Ministry of Ports and Shipping (Maritime) has planned to carry out a study for potential sites for new ports in the country. The study will identify the sites and details. Presently, Pakistan has three sea ports namely Karachi Port, Muhammad Bin Qasim Port and Gwadar Port.
Maritime transport is the backbone of global trade and the global economy. The shipping industry has played an important role in the dramatic improvements in the living standards of the people and has taken millions of them out of acute poverty in recent years. It will be just as critical for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the plan agreed by all global leaders last year for people, peace, planet prosperity and partnership.
Maritime transport is the backbone of globalization and lies at the heart of cross-border transport networks that support supply chains and enable international trade. The importance of transport has been recognized in the Sustainable Development Goals, which have integrated infrastructure and transport as an important consideration.
Sources told Customs Today that planning for conduct of a study for the establishment of a new port was on preliminary stages and it would take ample time for its execution. However, in the conduct of study, hopefully foreign surveying companies and firms will be hired to make the study somewhat effective and feasible.
To a question about the significance of maritime transportation in the world trade, the source said world seaborne trade volumes surpassed 10 billion tons in 2015 as shipments expanded by 2.1%, a pace notably slower than the historical average.
Similarly, the source said that world gross domestic product to further decelerated to 2.3% in 2016 and world seaborne trade shipments expected to pick up marginally in coming years with the estimated pace remaining relatively slow on a historical basis.
To another question about the performance of maritime ministry, the source said that performance of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs during last one year remained good; it is based on the performance of organizations under the Ministry, Karachi Port Trust (K PT) Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) which remained profitable.
The source said that Gwadar Port became operational in 2008 but it has yet to earn profit. China Overseas Port Holding Company is operating Gwadar Port under the Concession Agreement. Commercial operations are likely to commence in 2nd quarter of 2018. Since May 2013, M/S China Overseas Port Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) has taken over concession rights from the previous operator “M/s PSA Gwadar International Pte Ltd.
Similarly, the source said that Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) was a national flag carrier comprises 9 vessels (04 Aframax tankers and 05 bulk carrier) with a total deadweight (DWT) capacity of 681,806 metric tons and contributes significantly to Pakistan’s Imports and Exports volumes; on the other hand operate worldwide earning foreign exchange for the Government exchequer.
“During the FY 2016-17, PNSC arranged the shipment for various public sector organizations. Major strategic shipments were transported from USA, China. Russia and South Korea coupled with small shipments from various parts of the world. PNSC has declared profit after tax of Rs. 2,477 million in fiscal year 2016-17, an increment of 7% as compared to last year’s Rs. 2,323 million. This is the highest profit after tax achieved by the Corporation since last 10 years” the source maintained.
