Senate body discusses important matters related to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs

ISLAMABAD, June 23 (SABAH): The Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs met under the Chair of Senator Rubina Khalid.

The Committee discussed Public Petition No.PP-5278. The Secretary, Ministry of Maritime Affairs directed the KPT authorities to recruit Shahnawaz Baloch on daily wage basis without further delay.

Another significant issue discussed during the meeting was about advertising the vacant posts in Gwadar Port Authority. Senator Rubina Khalid directed the Secretary Maritime Affairs to gather relevant information regarding the recruitment at the Gwadar port.

The committee expressed its displeasure over the non-timely provision of working papers and the lack of preparation related to the agenda items. This lack of readiness led the committee to defer several agenda items for future consideration. The deferred items included report on procurement tenders issued by the KPT in the last ten years; detailed of all machinery and equipment which was used or is being used by KPT on rental charges basis since 2013 with complete detail of rent charges paid or being paid by the KPT on monthly basis; outstanding rental charges payable to the Gwadar Port Authority by the KPT, as well as the return of a tug boat to the GPA;  provision of details by the KPT and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) regarding dredged volume expenditure on maintenance dredging, along with average costs on a monthly and yearly basis during the last five years; and way forward for future maintenance dredging of Gwadar.

Senator Saifullah Abro raised the issue of the purchase of two ships by PNSC. The committee decided to seek a detailed briefing from the concerned authority in the next meeting. Senator Rubina Khalid recommended that the PNSC and Ministry should consider procuring new or slightly used ships with a maximum operational lifespan in any future boat/ship acquisitions.

The Secretary, Maritime Affairs  informed the committee about the 25-year concession G2G agreement signed between KPT and the Abu Dhabi Ports Group of  the UAE for operating Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) with an upfront investment of US$ 50 Million. He told that ADPG would manage, operate and develop KGTL with an investment of $1 billion. He said that the agreement would attract much needed investment of over $ 2 billion during the concession period.

The meeting was attended by Senator Rubina Khalid, Senator Nuzhat Sadiq, Senator Muhammad Akram, Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem, Senator Saifullah Abro, Senator Danesh Kumar, Senator Maula Bux Chandio and Senator Dost Muhammad Khan.