ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Maritime Affairs is reportedly in a tiff with Ministry of Defence (MoD) as the latter is said to have opposed ferry service for Iran and Iraq in first phase due to security concerns, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.
However, Ministry of Defence was willing to allow ferry service to Muscat in the first phase, Dubai in the second phase and Iran/Iraq third phase.
At present, there is no international or national commercial ferry service operating in Pakistan for the purpose of transportation of passengers and goods. In regional countries such as Iran, that UAE, Oman, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, there are established ferry operators, which arc successfully plying between various routes.
The potential for initiating a ferry service in Pakistan has been felt for quite some time especially in the context of providing an alternate route for Zaireen intending to visit holy sites in Iran and Iraq. Further, transportation between Karachi and Gwadar and for providing alternate waterroute between Karachi and Port Qasim is deemed to have good potential.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, moved a summary for the Prime Minister on December 15, 2017 through Foreign Affairs, Interior, Revenue and Defence Divisions, proposing to launch a ferry service through Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior endorsed the proposal; however, Revenue Division endorsed the proposal subject to various modalities. Moreover, Defence Division raised various observations/ conditions on the proposed ferry service. Hence, the Prime Minister's Office returned the summary with the directions to address the observations of Ministry of Defence and re-submit it within shortest possible time.
The Ministry re-submitted the proposal along with its response to observations raised by Ministry of Defence with a slightly changed route and involvement of private operators. The summary was routed through Foreign Affairs, Interior, Revenue and Defence Divisions.
The Revenue Division reiterated its earlier comments on the subject. The Defence Division supported the proposal, however, stressed that ferry service should be launched in three phases. Defence Division opposed the proposal for ferry service to Iran and Iraq in the first phase, however, recommended Muscat and then to the UAE and Abu Dhabi in first and second phases, respectively, and later to Iran/Iraq in the third phase.
Ministry of Maritime argued that ferry service without Iran/Iraq, a popular destination for Zaireen, in the first phase shall not be commercially viable. Moreover, the genesis of the ferry service was also to facilitate Zaireen to visit Iran. The Foreign Affairs and Interior Divisions endorsed the proposal subject to addressing the security concerns raised by the Ministry of Defence.
The re-submitted proposal was retuned by the Prime Minister's Office, with the direction to convene a meeting of the relevant stakeholders in order to address all the observations/ concerns, including those raised by FBR and Ministry of Defence and thereafter, submit proposals/ recommendations which have been unanimously agreed upon for consideration and approval.
It was also directed that in case differences persist on certain issues and were not resolved, Ministry of Maritime Affairs should place the matter before the Federal Cabinet and present the points, both convergent and divergent, in the presence of the Secretaries of the concerned Ministries /Divisions, who would also present their respective versions before the Federal Cabinet for consideration.
In pursuance of directions of the Prime Minister, a meeting on this issue was convened on August 06, 2020. The viewpoint of Defence Division remained unchanged.
Ministry of Defence supported the proposal subject to maintaining the priority of phases. Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony supported the proposals subject to clearance by security agencies.
The Ministry Maritime Affairs stated that commencement/operation of the proposed International Ferry Service in phases will limit the full commercial utilization and viability of ferry service. Therefore, the following proposals are submitted for consideration of the Cabinet: (i) Starting of a ferry service from Karachi (Karachi Port) and linking Port Qasim and Gwadar Port with Bandar Abbas (Iran), Basra (Iraq), Muscat (Oman) and Dubai (the UAE) separately or collectively (two or more ports); (ii) Ministry of Maritime Affairs may be authorized to invite expression of interest both from interested local and international private firms, for grant of licence to operate ferry service on the proposed routes, at their own risk and cost; (iii) Ministry of Religious Affairs & Inter-Faith Harmony may be directed to incorporate sea route option for Zaireen to Bandar Abbas (Iran) and Basra (Iraq) through ferry service in its present or proposed policy and; (iv) Ferry terminals at Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port be established by the respective port authorities, replicating all the operational facilities related to security, immigration, customs etc., as that in any international airport in the country in collaboration with other Ministries/Divisions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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