KARACHI: Seafarers are the main source of foreign remittances in Pakistan. But due to maladministration by DG Ports & Shipping and Ministry of Maritime Affairs in Islamabad this foreign remittance is decreasing. 

The average salary of seafarer class III, IV officer is 4,000 USD and the average salary of class II and I being 10,000 USD. There is loss of millions of Dollars yearly to Pakistan because these seafarers cannot bring the dollars.

 According to maritime analysts, the main reason for this major loss was the corrupt examination system of the seafarers in the country. In England, Singapore, Malaysia, India etc., there are many sessions throughout the year for the seafarers exams but in Pakistan last year there was one schedule in which 4 attempts for exams should be carried out but this year only 2 attempts are carried out, one in February and one in July and its result is still pending while there is no chance for next attempt in this year.

 Since last many years the exams for deck side Certificate of Competency is not carried out on time which is also the violation of Sindh High Court Order to conduct the exams on time and also the violation of Merchant Shipping Ordinance 2001, which in result is the loss of millions of dollars for Pakistan by the maladministration of DG Ports & Shipping and the Ministry itself.

The sources disclosed that since 2017 new surveyors were not appointed and there is only one examiner Capt Qasim Saeed who is conducting the exams which are also not in time. Qasim Saeed recently said in his letter that there were 150 candidates in the July attempt and it is not possible for him to conduct the exams on time at his own.   Capt Qasim Saeed wrote a letter to DG to appoint other surveyors for this purpose by which further exams should be carried out. But DG failed to do so. As Capt Qasim Saeed is the pilot of Port Qasim and on deputation in DGPS and one new pilot from KPT named Capt Arif has been appointed as Chief Nautical Surveyor. But by only one examiner it is not possible to conduct the written exams, signaling and oral exams on time. Hence, it is necessary to appoint new examiners on 4 vacant seats by whom monthly or 2 monthly exams should be conducted. In last attempt there were 150 candidates for exams which were from class III, IV and class II and I. 

Since the Ministry is failed in appointing new Surveyors on vacant seats they can again appoint these surveyors on deputation from KPT or from Port Qasim or from PNSC etc., the analysts suggested.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 30 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.