January 14, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 23, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 13: The secretariat of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member states is holding its meetings of the heads of reference marine organizations and high-level maritime transport experts in Karachi from Jan 16 to 18.

A statement here said that the meeting of high-level maritime transport experts is being hosted by the ministry of ports and shipping for the first time.

It said that the meeting will be attended by all member countries of ECO, where various issues relating to maritime cooperation will be discussed, including establishment and maintenance of ECO marine website, finalisation of the draft MoU on search and rescue, providing terms of reference for tariff committee, the role of the private sector in the maritime industry, the effect of implementation of transit transport framework agreement of the ECO-related to development of maritime cooperation within ECO region, providing possible port facilities by the ECO coastal countries to the landlocked member states and considering ways and means for better utilization of capabilities in the marine and technological fields.

The first meeting of heads of reference marine organization was held in October 2003, in Tehran, while the second was held 2005, in Turkey. The third meeting is being hosted by Pakistan.