Pakistan PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service Update: The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) is expanding its planned Pakistan PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service from Karachi to new destinations, including nearby coastal cities Doha, Dubai, and Muscat, according to documents obtained by DawnNews on Monday the 11th September 2017.
This plan for Pakistan PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service is followed by PNSC’s initial plan in 2016 to run the ferry service from Karachi to ports of Gwadar and Chabahar. According to sources, the plan of Pakistan PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service is expected to reach completion by 2018.
Recommendations for The Ferry Service
The national flag carrier in a document made the following recommendations in order to commence the Pakistan PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service "as early as possible":
- The service should provide its passengers with the following facilities: a canteen, waiting area, restrooms, terminal, embarkation and disembarkation areas, immigration and customs, quarantine area, electricity and standby electricity, car parking, first aid and communications.
- Passengers must also be facilitated with speedy clearance of luggage and cargo.
- The process of visa issuance and immigration should be smooth, with considerable attention paid to illegal immigrants, and issues related to immigration of Iranians.
- There’s a need for the Interior Ministry, as well as ministries for narcotics control, defence and foreign affairs to work in unison and make security arrangements for the crew and passengers as required.
- There should be a full waiver on port tariffs and charges. The charges would include: berth hire, wharfage, pilotage, and passenger handling.
In addition to the above recommendations, the PNSC submitted a letter to the chairpersons of Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port Authority. The letter contained a request for a waiver on port charges and annual license renewal fees until 2030 as a means to promote the service and encourage investors.
Read: PNSC Ferry Cruise Ship Service from Karachi to Gwadar Dubai and Iran to Start Soon
According to a letter written to Federal Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Shipping, the officials of PNSC will hold detailed meetings to present their plans.
It also obtained a no-objection certificate for the venture in March 2017 from the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, the documents said.
PNSC will soon take the government on board with its plans following the discussion of various matters relating to its new venture with the National Assembly Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping.
Project Already Underway
The corporation has already obtained a no-objection certificate for the venture in March 2017 from the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and has begun the process of scrutiny for ferries.
“The initiative would promote ferry service in Pakistan and encourage both public and private sector entrepreneurs to enter into this trade,” the letter to the Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port said.
Source: Mehran Post
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