Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi concluded three-day national seminar on the ratification & implementation of the Hong Kong Convention for safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships.

While showing concern on downward position of ship breaking industry, he said that Pakistan used to be No.1 in this industry in the past, but our poor human resource management and collective failure at institutional level has ranked us 4th position in the world.

Minister said that Ministry of Maritime Affairs had no FDC Fisheries Development Commissioner for the last ten years which shows our non serious attitude towards marine industry in the past.

"But the good news is that this seminar is first of its type to be held in Pakistan. Although we are not the signatory to this convention, we will soon become party to it to re-boost the ship breaking industry by increasing employment, assuring the safety of the work force and protecting from environmental hazards", he added.

Minister also highlighted the ongoing development of harmonizing national laws in line with the Hong Kong Convention. He said that despite several challenges, Ministry of Maritime Affairs is adamantly sticking to the reform agenda of reviving our old glory in ship breaking industry by closely coordinating with International Maritime Organisation and national stakeholders.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019