KARACHI: There is serious lack of flow of timely information among various tiers of maritime administration in Pakistan. It has been disclosed by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Audit team in its audit report.

IMO member State Audit Scheme is mandatory audit under IMO Resolution to promote consistency and effectiveness of implementation of IMO instruments and to assist member States to improve their capability in performance of duties as contracting governments to international conventions.

IMO Audit team disclosed that Pakistan Maritime Ministry prior to 2020 had no approved strategy as required under III-Code. It was in 2020 that strategy was developed by Directorate General, Ports and Shipping Wing, Karachi and sent to Ministry of Maritime Affairs for approval.

It was in 2020 that first “Strategy for Implementing IMO Instruments and Improving Performance of Maritime Administration” was approved.

It was very well defined document in which different targets in respect of flag state, port state and coastal state were identified and methodology was devised to accomplish those targets within prescribed time limits. However, during audit it was observed that though some serious efforts were made to accomplish the given targets yet number of targets remained unfulfilled.

From Karachi, Qasim Saeed revealed that remained unaware of fact for long period of time that whether strategy sent by DG, P&S had been approved by Ministry or not. Many other people whom audit team met during audit activity in different organizations revealed their ignorance about knowledge of ‘Strategy for Implementing IMO Instruments and Improving Performance of Maritime Administration’ approved by MOMA in 2020.

It is more than three years that strategy was approved but few stakeholders are aware of it. Moreover, it was observed by audit team that strategy approved during year 2020 is under process of revision these days, report added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 04 2024

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