ISLAMABAD: Minister for Maritime Affairs, Ali Haider Zaidi, is all set to get federal cabinet's approval to appoint Chairman PNSC Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo as a Trustee on Board of Trustees of KPT, to counter reservations of Chairman KPT, well-informed sources told Business Recorder.

Karachi Port Trust is a statutory body, governed by the KPT Act, 1886( as amended ) through a Board of Trustees, consisting of eleven members, including Chairman. In terms of section-11 of the Act, the Board is constituted for a period of two years. The tenure of previous KPT Board expired on August 11, 2018. The existing KPT Board was notified by the Ministry on December 11, 2018 for the term 2018-20.

Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo was appointed as Chairman PNSC as per notification of Establishment Division on June 9, 2020 in pursuance of Cabinet Division decision of June 2, 2020. The appointment of Chairman PNSC has been made under an enactment i.e. PNSC Ordinance 1979.

As per convention, PNSC intimated KPT for notification of Chairman PNSC as turstee/ ex-officio member on board of KPT. However, for the first time, Chairman KPT expressed reservations on the pretext that Chairman PNSC is not elected by Pakistan Ships Owners Association, Karachi in terms of section 7 of KPT Act 1886. However, it is relevant to note that only PNSC vessels are registered in Pakistan.

According to the Ministry, Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, present Chairman of PNSC, is a BS -21 officer and serving PNSC in his official capacity on standard terms and conditions. It has been established practice of KPT that Chairman PNSC is recognized as the sole and legitimate representative of Pakistan Ship Owners Association, Karachi , as there is no other entity which owns ships, which are registered in Pakistan.

As per instructions issued by the Cabinet Division on March 16, 2018, no Trustee/ Director of a BoD can be appointed except with the approval of the Prime Minister. Further, as per Supreme Court's decision in the Mustafa Apex case, the words" federal government" have been defined as federal cabinet. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, presented the case to the Prime Minister, who has directed to submit it before the Cabinet.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020