ISLAMABAD, OCT 12 (DNA) -Seafarers around the globe are considered to be a major contributor to a country’s economy as they send valuable foreign exchange in the form of remittances.

Philippine Model shows that how the right policy measures can help a small nation of just 100 million provide 20% of the seafarers in the global market and contribute around $5.5 billion to their economy annually.

Pakistan has a huge potential in this sector and can compete both regional and global players as proper steps are being taken to resolve the issues faced by our seafarers.

“Investing in manpower to benefit from the huge potential at our disposal is the priority of the current government and the ministry is taking steps to gradually, but steadily, facilitate our seafarers in this regard.

We have to empower our youth for converting the youth bulge into demographic dividend that was being neglected by inadequate policy measures of the past governments”, observed Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi while addressing the problems of seafarers.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs is taking structural measures to solve the problems of Pakistani seafarers. Under the directions of the Federal Minister, a complaint mechanism is also in place to learn about their problems and to address their issues which is not only updated daily, but also get a direct supervision by the Minister himself.

In the month of August 2019, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi held a meeting with the seafarers including Chairmen of all ports, Director General Ports and Shipping, Secretary, Maritime Affairs and all the stakeholders to discuss the issues faced by both the fresh graduates of The Pakistan Marine Academy and those who are already serving in the field. It was for the first time in the history that such an interaction took place where all the stakeholders participated in recommending the way forward.

The meeting ended with a resolve to hold such a meeting quarterly. The second meeting will be held in November 2019. “Betterment of a group of people serving an organization is a consultative process.

Short term steps to facilitate the seafarers are being taken, but long term steps involving prudent decisions regarding permanent solutions are being worked on which will be unveiled soon”, Ali Zaidi remarked.

Complaints regarding administrative issues at the Government Shipping Office have been addressed through pro-active oversight and strengthening its capacity. Identification of the problems and treating them as challenges is a strategy that is being adopted which has effectively started to show results.

The development of an online interface is under process to facilitate seafarers and reduce their physical interaction with Government Shipping Office. The application of the said step is expected to be launched in November as well.

Funds have also been allocated to set up a dedicated and upgraded infrastructure at NADRA for issuance of machine readable SID Cards. The said problem came to light through the complaint system, placed by Federal Minister Ali Zaidi.

The two step approach adopted was to immediately set up a SID card facility for facilitation of our seafarers at KPT with coordination of NADRA.

After this short term action, the long term plan for permanent facilities was devised and hence the launch is underway. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs is aggressively pursuing the availability of “OK to Board” facility to Pakistani seafarers for employment on Foreign Vessels. In addition to that to facilitate employment of Pakistani seafarers on foreign vessels, the condition of age limit of 60 years has been discontinued.

Further, the Ministry of Interior is being requested to allow an immigration facility to seafarers joining foreign vessels without an NOC from the Govt. Shipping Office. Sign-on facility is now being provided by Government Shipping Office 24 hours as and when requested by the licensed manning agents. Public dealing timings have also been enhanced from 0900 hours to 1500 hours (previously, it was till 1300 hours).

To further facilitate the seafarers, the roster rules are being amended. The aforementioned measures will bring positive changes in the working environment of the seafarers. These reforms will also serve the purpose of sustainable development and revamping of the departments. Conclusively, the betterment of our workforce is the key to a prosperous Pakistan.=DNA

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