January 19, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 28, 1427

KARACHI, Jan 18: The member states of the Economic Cooperation Organisation have agreed to set up an ECO Federation of National Associations composed of private sector shipping agents, freight forwarders, truck operators, multimodal transport operators and ship-owners.

The understanding was reached on the sidelines of the third meeting of Heads of Reference Marine Organisations of the ECO member states which concluded on Thursday. For achieving the goal, a business forum was also established of the private sector from the ECO member states.The concluding session discussed various issues, including the establishment of ECO marine website, preparation of a draft agreement on search and rescue cooperation, establishment of a mechanism for implementation of marine-related articles of Transit Transport Framework Agreement (TTFA).

It was also resolved to enhance technical cooperation among ECO member states as well as the member states’ accession to the international marine conventions.

The meeting also agreed to establish a regional mechanism of common maritime transport tariff regime.

The heads of participating delegates also delivered their statements expressing the views and comments of their respective governments on the ongoing and future activities with regard to their transport sector.

The delegate members also visited the Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT), port and shipping facilities at Karachi and Port Qasim.