ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael has expressed optimism to strike business agreements on stalled projects with the normalisation of conditions in the country.
He also disclosed being in contact with other countries regarding memorandums of understanding as well as agreements. “Definitely, we are in contact with officials of departments concerned of other countries on the draft of the said agreements and with the normalization of conditions, foreign dignitaries will undertake their postponed visits to Pakistan to sign them,” Michael said in an interview with Customs Today.
When asked about the status of proposed agreement between the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the Sri Lankan Ministry of Highways and Ports, he said that all the preparations were complete from Pakistani side but unfortunately the Sri Lankan president had to postpone his visit to Pakistan due to the prevailing political turmoil.
“However, now visit of the Sri Lankan president is not binding for the purpose because I may also go to Sri Lanka for the purpose,” he asserted, adding that similarly he could also undertake visits to other countries to sign ports and shipping-related MoUs and agreements.
“But, being minister from the ruling party, I can’t pay visit to any country due to the prevailing situation of the country, because circumstance necessitate my presence in the country as well as in parliament during the joint parliamentary session, ” Kamran maintained.
The minister recalled under the proposed agreement between PNSC and Sri Lankan Ministry, Sri Lanka would hire ships from PNSC for entire exports and imports and such a deal would earn billions for Pakistan. When asked about deal shipment of coal for independent power projects in Punjab, Michel said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was keen in the deal, however, the political impasse had blocked implementation and execution of all projects which had inflicted billions of rupees losses to the national exchequer.
