ISLAMABAD (GNP): Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has directed to accelerate work on establishing a one-door facilitation centre in Karachi to provide port-related business services under one roof.
The minister issued the direction while reviewing ongoing projects and initiatives of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs at a weekly review meeting.
The meeting discussed progress on a range of projects and policy initiatives aimed at facilitating maritime trade, strengthening the fisheries sector and developing the country’s blue economy.
The minister stressed the need to expedite work on the proposed One-door Cell for business facilitation, saying the initiative was intended to make it easier for port-related businesses to access government services.
He said that, in line with Prime Minister’s vision for trade facilitation, all services related to port trade should be made available under one roof.
The meeting also reviewed proposals for simplifying the ship registration process and registration of fishing vessels, as well as measures relating to the blue economy and tax incentives for fisheries exporters.
The minister was briefed on progress towards formulation of the National Maritime Policy and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.
The Shipping and Transshipment Policy also came under discussion, along with development projects at Port Qasim, including the Sea-to-Steel Project and the proposed Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.
Progress on the rehabilitation of the Manora Workshop of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and various development projects at Gwadar Port was also reviewed.
The meeting further considered the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund, aimed at supporting the development of maritime education and human resources.
Also read: Pakistan Rolls Out National Mental Health Policy in Islamabad
The minister directed the relevant officials to maintain momentum on the projects and ensure timely progress, with particular emphasis on measures that could improve the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
