KARACHI: Maritime experts urged Secretary Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA), Director General (Ports and Shipping) and Shipping Master to immediately devise an ‘Online’ procedure/mechanism for engagements and discharge of sailors in accordance with Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001 and make arrangements for submission of articles of Agreement ‘Online’. Also, appoint Seamen Welfare Officers at four provincial capitals under Section 10 of Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001.  

 Zaeem Akhtar Advocate High Court while talking to Daily National Courier stated that petition was filed by him for ‘sign on’ without going to shipping office.Unfortunately, petitioner seamen withdrew it under threats from government shipping office mafia. If anyone is interested he can file it again so that all seamen stay safe from corrupt practices of shipping office and earn precious foreign exchange for country.

 He said Merchant Marine Officers serving foreign going vessels; serve in internationally reputed companies trading across world. They bring foreign exchange to Pakistan after serving under very miserable life at sea. Sometimes they have to remain at sea for months. They are well-educated people who serve foreign nationals of every country and bring good name to Pakistan.

They work with honesty and labour to brighten image of Pakistan, they are also called sailing ambassadors of Pakistan. They are first choice of shipping companies for their professionalism and discipline are matchless.  However, there are no special medical facilities provided to them by government of Pakistan. On retirement, there is no mechanism of pension or gratuity for merchant marine officers. Even Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, national merchant ships fleet does not provide any pension to retiring officers and crew.

 Government does not even provide jobs to Merchant Marine Officers. Section 10 of Merchant Shipping Ordinance empowers federal government to appoint Seamen’s Welfare Officers in all provincial capitals of Pakistan. But federal government did not appoint even Karachi being major Seaport. Government shipping office charges fee for ‘signing on’ a ship. Charging fee prior to hiring of staff in private sector makes no sense. This practice of charging fees results in lack of interest of foreign companies in hiring sailors which is causing a higher rate of unemployment among Merchant Marine Officers of Pakistan.

Sailors have to stay in Karachi for engagement and discharge procedures which is full of red-tapism. In most cases, bribe/illegal gratification is demanded quick procedure of engagement and discharge by officials as they believe that sailors have lot of foreign exchange in form of dollars. On refusal to grease palm, they are delayed for weeks resulting in mental torture of patriotic citizens who remain at sea to feed their families and bring precious foreign exchange for national exchequer. This is gross injustice to leave hard-working professionals at mercy of these ruthless and corrupt officials of government shipping office. 

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 17 2022

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