INDIA AND PAKISTAN SIGN REVISED SHIPPING PROTOCOL
Thiru T. R. Baalu, Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways and Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, Minister for Ports & Shipping of Pakistan signed a revised Shipping Protocol between India and Pakistan here today. The revised protocol replaces the protocol on resumption of shipping services signed by India and Pakistan in 1975 which restricted lifting of cargo destined to the other country by the vessels belonging to India or Pakistan only. Further, the vessels of India or Pakistan could not lift the cargo destined to or from other countries from each other’s ports. These restrictions were causing hindrances in the flow of cargo between the two countries.
Removing these restrictions were under consideration specially in view of the rising trade between the two countries. This trade last year has grown to $860 million with a phenomenal growth rate of 43%. Therefore, there was a need to review the shipping protocol between the two countries.
India-Pakistan technical talks on shipping were held at Karachi, Pakistan on 8-10 December, 2005 and the new protocol was negotiated by the officials of two sides during this meeting. The revised protocol signed today removes restrictions on lifting of third country cargo by Indian and Pakistani vessels from each others ports. It also lifts the restriction that the cargo destined for the other country can be carried only by an Indian or Pakistani vessel. Third country flag will be able to carry India or Pakistan bound cargo. Revised protocol will help shipping companies of both the countries and also improve shipping links.
VBA/NNK/SK
(Release ID :23328)