December 30, 2006	Saturday	Zilhaj 08, 1427

KARACHI, Dec 29: Pakistan has become ninth country in the world and second in Asia to ratify Seafarers Identity Documents (SID) Convention of International Labour Organisation (ILO), Geneva.

Official sources said that Pakistan on Dec 21 formally handed its instrument of ratification in respect of Seafarers Identity Documents (SID) to Executive Director, ILO, Kari Tapiola, Geneva.

Pakistan is also amongst a handful of countries which, so far, have developed an expertise in issuing Machine Readable Seafarers Identification Documents.

On formal ratification of the convention, Tapiola, in a message to Director General Ports and Shipping Captain Anwar Shah, appreciated Pakistan’s active role during the negotiation of the Instrument in 2003 and its subsequent participation in the adoption of the Consolidated Maritime Convention in 2006.

Mr Tapiola wished Pakistan to export its expertise in Machine Readable SIDs to other maritime states and hoped that by signing this instrument, the travel, transit and working of Pakistani Seafarers would ultimately improve.

The process of issuing the Machine Readable Seafarers Identity Documents was initiated in 2004. The system was subsequently made operational by Sept 8, 2005, with the assistance of Nadra. The SID system is working so well that Pakistan is now contemplating to export the expertise to other maritime states after marketing it extensively.

In this respect, NADRA has offered its services to the government of Bangladesh and further negotiations between them are expected soon.