KARACHI: Pakistan has proposed establishing a structured maritime cooperation framework with Bangladesh to deepen collaboration between the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), the country’s maritime minister said on Monday.
The Developing-8 neighbors, both significant maritime states with large merchant fleets and busy ports, have historically had limited formal cooperation between their shipping lines. Officials say a structured framework would allow the two countries to coordinate on shipping services, training, port operations and maritime safety.
“Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed the establishment of a formal cooperation framework between the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) and the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) to deepen maritime collaboration between the two countries,” the maritime ministry said in a statement after Chaudhry held talks in London with Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Dr. M. Sakhawat Hussain, Bangladesh’s adviser for shipping.
“The proposal ... envisions a comprehensive partnership encompassing joint container and bulk shipping services, technical training programs, cooperation on maritime safety and seafarer development, reciprocal port-call facilitation, and strengthened diplomatic and technical engagement at senior levels.”
