Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Thursday emphasized on strengthening country’s shipping industry for transportation of export and import goods.
He said transportation of huge quantity of imported furnace oil by the country’s ships will save billions of dollars, as the transportation charges were being paid to foreign shipping lines.
He was addressing a ceremony for signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan State Oil and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), here at the Governor House. Chairman PNSC, Vice Admiral (Retd) Saleem Ahmed Meenai and Managing Director PSO Naeem Yahya Mir signed the MoU. The Prime Minister along with Federal Ministers Qamar Zaman Kaira, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri and Dr. Asim Hussain also witnessed the signing ceremony. The senior officers from both organizations were also present. Under the MoU, PSO and PNSC will set up a joint venture company to purchase two oil tankers (ships) during this month at a cost of dollars 50 million. This company would purchase eight to ten oil tankers in phases. The purchase of two oil tankers would save dollars 50 million as transportation bill of furnace oil. Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said transportation of imported furnace oil was an important issue of the country.
A domestic transportation facility for this purpose was dire need for saving huge amount of foreign currency for the country, besides ensuring smooth and timely supply of this important commodity. He described the signing of MoU between PSO and PNSC, the two state run federal organizations, as a big achievement. It would prove very beneficial for both the organizations and the country, he added.
He appreciated the performance of PNSC which was earning huge profits for the country besides expanding its scale of operations. He acknowledged Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri’s role in success of all organizations under his ministry. This Joint Venture Company of PSO and PNSC would take responsibility for importing furnace oil for PSO that amounts to eleven million tones annually. Presently, PNSC fleet includes six dry cargo bulk carrier ships and three latest double hull tankers. Besides the above two oil tankers, another cargo ship will join its fleet next month.
Govt planned to rig polls, says APML: All Pakistan Muslim League Central Information Secretary Aasia Ishaq has said the present government has planned to rig general elections on bogus and flawed voters’ lists but APML will resist it.
According to an APML press release issued here on Thursday, Aasia Ishaq while addressing the party workers, said Nadra had hired services of political parties during the census, who compiled lists on their own accord.
She said elections on the old bogus and voters’ lists, which were prepared by politically-motivated staff, would be a pre-poll rigging. “If these voters’ lists are not re-checked, it would be a fraud with the masses, because the corrupt politicians will be once again get elected if the elections were held on old voters’ lists”, she added.
Aasia Ishaq said the new chief election commissioner Fakharuddin G Ibrahim is not a disputed person and enjoyed a good reputation. He should order re-check of the voters’ lists for holding free, fair and transparent elections, she demanded.
