KARACHI, Sept 24: Consultant of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Professor Dr Malek Pourzanjani on Saturday, expressing his satisfaction over the capacity of Pakistan Maritime Academy (PMA) and allied institutions along with market needs, gave his nod for its up-gradation to Pakistan Maritime University.
“I visited the PMA and other institutions and also evaluated the market needs during my week-long stay in Pakistan and have come to the conclusion that there was urgent need for the up-gradation of the academy to university level,” Dr Malek observed.
About a year ago Pakistan approached the IMO for providing assistance for the up-gradation of the marine academy to university level to cater to the needs of technical and skilled manpower required at all levels and segments of seafaring and ports.
The IMO sent their consultant professor Dr Malek Pourzanjani on a week-long “Need Assessment Mission” to Pakistan from Sept 19, 2005, to find out if the PMA could be up-graded to university and also analyze its market needs.
In an exclusive interview with the Dawn, Dr Malek said that within 30 days he would submit his report to the secretary general of the IMO. He said that during his visit to PMA he found the institution to be in good shape and could be up-graded to Pakistan Maritime University (PMU).
Similarly, he said the allied institutions like Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KS&EW) and other educational institution like University of Karachi, NED University were well equipped to support the maritime university.
Dr Malek said he also visited government departments including Port Qasim to assess the available local support for the new university. “I met faculty members of both the universities and evaluated market conditions.” He said sea going trade of Pakistan was very large and presently around 30,000 people are engaged in this business. Therefore, only big institution of university level could meet its requirement, he added.
He said the maritime university would need local and international support and the objective of his mission was to assess the domestic need for such an institution which itself was big task and could only be achieved in a given time frame.
Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, minister for ports and shipping, during his last year visit to the Secretary General, IMO, in London discussed the support of the IMO for Pakistan in development of maritime sector. The secretary general, IMO agreed to provide technical assistance to Pakistan and also promised to recommend to the donor organizations to assist in up-gradation of PMA to Pakistan Maritime University.
The IMO consultant, besides holding meetings with PMA also inter-acted with the Director General, Ports and Shipping Capitan Anwar Shah, who is also the Governor of the Board of Governors of the World Maritime Univeristy, Malmo, Sweden.
“Though a lot has yet to be done we have already submitted the charter of the Pakistan Maritime University to the Education Department, Sindh and as well as to Governor of Sindh,” Capt Anwar Shah said.
He expressed his satisfaction over the views and findings of Dr Malek Pourzanjani and said that highly professional approach had been shown by the IMO consultant.
DG Ports and Shipping said some amendments had been made in the charter of the PMU so that the institution could also meet 21st century needs and expressed his desire to induct on the board of governor of the PMU from the board of governor of WMU. Once the IMO gives it formal approval to the PMU then there would be need to have technical evaluation followed by human and financial resource support from the world body (IMO), he added.
