Pakistan, India ink Protocol on Shipping Services
'Pakistan Times' Staff Report

NEW DELHI (India): India and Pakistan today inked a Protocol on Shipping Services enabling the private shipping companies of the two countries to lift the cargo for the third country besides jacking up trade volume between the two sides.

The Protocol was signed here Thursday evening at a simple ceremony by Pakistan's Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri and Indian Minister of Shipping, Road, Transport and Highways T R Baalu.

The Protocol will come into force on the date of signing and will replace the "Protocol on resumption of shipping services between Pakistan and India", singed on January 15, 1975.

The shipping services between the countries were being resumed after lapse of over thirty years, Ghauri said adding it was major step forward.

Talking to the media persons after signing ceremony, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri said the protocol would help increase trade to two billion dollars this year between the two sides.

In response to a question about resumption of Ferry Service between Mumbai and Karachi, Ghauri said he discussed this issue with his Indian counterpart. A comprehensive proposal in this regard, he said would be given to India.

The Indian side is expected to positively consider that proposal for taking decision to revive the Ferry service, which had existed between the two countries before 1965, he said adding, four private shipping companies were granted licenses for operation in the ferry services.

Billing the inking of Protocol as major step forward between the two countries, Pakistan's Minister exuded confidence that other bilateral issues would also be resolved in the same spirit.

The Minister said Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz were keen to resolve all the issues between the two countries through negotiation adding, Pakistani leadership moved forward an extra mile in that direction.

The freight charges of the shipping companies of the two countries are less than those of foreign shipping lines which, he added would provide healthy competition to the exporters and importers of the two countries besides reducing the freight costs.

Indian Minister for Shipping, Transports, Roads and Highways T R Baalu, said the protocol will help enhance trade between the two countries and give strength to the trade ties.

According to the Protocol, the vessels of either country, their crew and cargoes shall be admitted to the territorial waters and the ports of other country and shall be accorded same treatment as accorded to its vessels relating to their entry, stay, loading/unloading of cargo, leaving of the ports and all necessary facilities for safe maritime navigation.

Under the protocol, either country will adopt, within the limits of their laws and port regulation, all appropriate measures to facilitate and expedite maritime traffic, to prevent delays to vessels and to expedite the carrying out of customs and other formalities applicable at the ports.

All ship documents including those relating to nationality, registration, tonnage and survey issued or recognized by one country will be recognized by other country. Either Country will recognize the seaman's identity documents issued by the appropriate authorities of the country.

All payments and expenses relating to shipping services between the two countries will be effected in freely convertible currency in accordance with the foreign exchange regulations in force from time to time in each country.

The Indian government nominated the director General of Shipping, Mumbai while Pakistan's government nominated Director general of Ports and Shipping, Karachi for resolution of any issues arising out of this Protocol.

The provisions of the Protocol will apply to international maritime transport between the two countries and to cargo originating from/destined for a third country, except those for which cargo preference to domestic flag vessels is applicable and it will be accomplished on the basis of the principles of free and non-discriminatory access to cargoes subject to domestic laws and prevailing practices.●