02 October 2004	Saturday	16 Shaban 1425

KARACHI, Oct 1: Pakistan has been nominated as coordinator in the newly formed Asia Pacific Group (APG) of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The group comprises over 20 countries belonging to the Asia Pacific region and Japan has been elected chairman of the group.

There had been a gap in the representation of countries belonging to this region but after the formation of APG a balance is created to counter the strength of other blocs to protect regional interest at the ILO, one of the strongest bodies of the United Nations.

The ILO has recently organized the Preparatory Technical Maritime Conference (PTMC) at Geneva. The objective of the conference was to create a single and coherent instrument embodying as far as possible all up-to-date standards of existing ILO conventions.

A four-member Pakistani experts' delegation, headed by Captain Anwar Shah, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ports and Shipping, participated in the conference.

The PTMC, as is usual for all ILO conventions, was a tripartite conference. The Pakistani delegation actively participated in the plenary as well as technical sessions of the conference.

One of the main achievements of the delegation was its role in the formulation of Asia Pacific Group. Speaking at the plenary session, Capt Shah appreciated ILO efforts in consolidating its instruments effecting international shipping and seafarers.

Drawing attention of the participations towards fast changing global scenario related to ports and shipping industry, Mr Shah said the consolidation of ILO instruments was the need of the time.

He also brought to the notice of the assembly serious problems being faced by Pakistani seafarers because of unnecessary visa restriction imposed by many countries. Mr Shah said that this was further aggravating the problem of unemployment in his country, which was one of the main factors for creating law and order situation.

The DG Ports and Shipping sought ILO assistance for imparting training to Pakistani seafarers so that their skills and know-how could be upgraded with the changing times and technologies in the international employment market.

Once the suggestions forwarded by the Pakistani delegation at the ILO conference are implemented it is hoped that greater opportunities will open up for Pakistani seafarers as well as labour markets of the world.

For introducing any change or amendment in the ILO conventions it was necessary that there should be 1-5 or the proposing country should at least have the support of five other members. However, after the formation of APG this issue could be easily handled by the group on collective basis.