Pakistan still awaits Indian response on shipping protocol designed to improve maritime relationships between the two countries and enable them to lift third country's cargo from each others ports. The lukewarm response by New Delhi has further delayed the finalisation of the protocol that was expected to be enforced in March this year.
While both the countries have been engaged for quite some time in confidence building measures and have taken a number of steps to improve their relations, the protocol for improvement in maritime relations has failed to draw Indian government's attention.
The two neighbours had pledged to revise the shipping protocol some four months ago, opening up their ports for lifting third country's cargo. It was believed that the revision of 30-year old agreement would pave the way for both the countries to enter into a bilateral maritime shipping agreement that will ultimately help in softening restrictions and liberalisation of trade through sea route. At the moment, there are various restrictions on lifting of third country's cargo by the flag vessels of both the countries from each others ports.
Interestingly, the Indian maritime authorities during their technical level talks with Pakistani counterparts last December had handed over a draft of maritime shipping agreement for consideration. It is to be mentioned here that now when the Pakistan cabinet has given its consent, the Indian side is mum over the issue and taking too long to finalise all the arrangements.
Comments
Comments are closed.