KARACHI, Dec 14: The Pakistan Marine Academy will be upgraded to Maritime University in the near future. This was stated by Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri while speaking as the chief guest at the passing-out parade of the academy on Tuesday.

He said the prime minister was keen to initiate this project at the earliest.

The minister said the International Maritime Organization had assured technical support for which a meeting was scheduled at the IMO Headquarters next week. He said the government was well aware of the employment problems of the PMA cadets and would make all-out efforts to accommodate the marine academy graduates in the PNSC and other shipping lines with the help of the private sector.

About the difficulties of cadets in need of financial assistance, the minister stated that the government would arrange interest-free loans for deserving individuals out of the funds available with the Bait-ul-Mal.

He also reiterated the resolve of the government to help solve problems of the shipping sector with the involvement of the private sector. Babar Ghouri indicated that there would be encouraging announcements about it in the near future.

While highlighting the negative impact of the events of 9/11 on the Pakistani Seafarers, he advised the parents and guardians to groom their sons and wards to refrain from such activities which created an unfavourable impact on the international community leading to difficulties in our integration with other nations.

Meanwhile, the minister reviewed the passing-out parade and took the salute and inspected the passing-out term. Welcoming the chief guest, the commandant of the academy, Commodore Imran Ansari, highlighted the achievements of the academy in training human resource for the maritime industry.

He said the Marine Academy had attained international recognition as a regional branch of World Maritime University which operated under the sponsorship of the IMO. In the end the cadets marched past the saluting dias. The Commandant requested the Minister for his support for employment of PMA cadets on Pakistani and foreign flag carriers.