KARACHI: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael has said that the government would soon put the Shipping Bill before the National Assembly for approval to modernise the ports and shipping sector.
He said this during a meeting organised by the All Pakistan Shipping Association (APSA).
Michael informed that the Shipping Bill had been lying with the ministry for the last seven years. “It is unfortunate that a vital sector like shipping, which has direct links and dealing with outside world, is still being run by 150 years old law – Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1882,” the minister regretted.
Michael assured the members of All Pakistan Shipping Association that his ministry would go through the Shipping Bill and after making necessary changes will get federal cabinet’s approval and then put the bill before the parliament to make it an Act.
He further said that the new Shipping Act would be in line with modern shipping practices which are at par with global standards.
The shippers association’s Chairman Captain Mushtaq Ali Shah said that in the absence of proper shipping law, practices were becoming the rules of the trade and this was causing an increase in litigations.
Michael encouraged the association to forward its proposals for upcoming Shipping Bill so that logistics were developed to meet the shipping sector demands as well as modern requirements.
