Govt Plans to Cut Trade Tariffs at Sea Ports

Staff Report

Islamabad: Pakistan plans to cut trade tariffs at Sea Ports to become competitive in the global market and boost trade activities.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif held a meeting on Maritime Sector Reforms here on Monday.

Premier directed to review of trade tariffs to bring the country’s ports to a competitive standard.

The Prime Minister directed to formulation of a plan to reduce the clearance period in red and yellow channels to speed up the customs clearance process on the model of the green channel.

He also directed to minimize the time of clearance of containers at ports and to auction the containers available at the ports as soon as possible for better use of the space available at the port.

The pace of installing the latest scanners at all ports should be accelerated, the Prime Minister

He noted that the recent reduction in electricity tariffs was possible due to the efforts of the task force formed for sustainable reforms in the energy sector;

He directed to follow the same plan in the maritime sector for sustainable reforms.

Work on reforms is progressing rapidly to end the long-standing stagnation in the maritime economy, the Prime Minister noted adding that Pakistan is bestowed with a long coastline, sea, and other unlimited resources.

Premier further noted that the development of the global economy is linked to maritime resources and access to them and added that Keeping in mind the needs of the next ten years, a national dredging plan has been formed.

During the briefing, it was informed that the government would form a national dredging company for dredging all the country’s ports under the national dredging plan.

Keeping in mind the needs of the next 25 years, the government has prepared a plan of action for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation.

The government has decided to include the private sector in the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation through a public-private partnership.

The government has also decided to conduct financial, HR, and performance audits of all ports to improve the performance of national ports. The government has also set up a plant in Gadani to dispose of chemical waste and other hazardous materials.

The Pakistan Maritime Port Act is in the final stages of implementing uniform rules and regulations at all ports.