KARACHI, Dec 10: A draft of revised shipping protocol between Pakistan and India has been finalized by visiting Indian delegates and the Pakistani ministry of ports and shipping.

The draft was finalised after three days of negotiations at the director general ports and shipping office.

The Pakistani side was led by S.M. Hasan Zaidi, joint secretary, ministry of ports and shipping, while the Indian delegation was led by Susheel Kumar, joint secretary (shipping), ministry of shipping, road transport and highways.

According to a joint statement issued at a press briefing held here on Saturday, the revised protocol on shipping would be signed after the completion of necessary formalities by the two governments.

The technical-level talks on shipping between the two countries were held in a frank and cordial atmosphere. The two sides held detailed discussions aimed at reviewing the Shipping Protocol of 1975 with a view to improving the provisions of the protocol.

After extensive deliberations, the two sides agreed on a revised protocol on shipping to meet the present and future demands of international maritime transport, which is expected to enhance tonnage under both the flags and also result in competitive shipping rates.

Both the sides agreed to delete paras 3 and 5 of the 1975 protocol, which were restricting lifting of cargo between the two countries by third country’s vessels as well as lifting of third country’s cargo by Indian and Pakistani flag vessels from each other’s ports.

During the talks, the difficulties being faced by seafarers of both the countries were addressed. The two sides also initiated discussions to enter into a bilateral maritime shipping agreement. The Indian side handed over a draft maritime shipping agreement for consideration by the Pakistani side. Both the sides agreed to continue discussions for early finalization of the agreement.

The director general, ports and shipping, Capt Anwar Shah, speaking on the occasion said they were studying the proposals and expressed the confidence that both the countries would move towards more cooperation in the ports and shipping sector. —APP