Pakistan Ship's Agents Association is delighted to inform you that after hectic continuous efforts, and advocacy and lobbying for the past six years finally, on December 9th (after two days of hearings) National Assembly's Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping approved carriage of goods by Sea Bill 2011 and Sea Carriage Shipping Documents Bill 2011 as prepared by the Ministry of Ports and Shipping.
The hearings were attended by Captain Javed Iqbal, Chairman, Asim Saeed Khan, Vice Chairman, Mohammed A. Rajpar, former Chairman and Ms Ava A. Cowasjee, former Chairperson, PSAA. The prevailing laws which are the Bill of Lading Act 1856 and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of 1925 needed to be replaced and brought in line with modern practices and circumstances.
The proposed bills are based on the Hague Visby Rules as amended by the Special Drawing Rights Protocol which is followed by most maritime nations. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill is based upon the British legislation and recognises transport documents such as the 'sea waybill' and the 'ship's delivery order'.
PSAA is especially thankful to Mohammed A.Rajpar whose keen interest in this matter finally bore fruit. We are also thankful to Senator Babar Khan Ghauri, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, all the members of National Assembly's Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping and the Ministry of Commerce, especially Javaid Mansoor, Executive Secretary of National Trade and Transport Facilitation Committee, and State Bank of Pakistan who supported this legislation despite vehement opposition from Pakistan Apparel Forum.
Barrister Zahid Jamil rendered useful technical advice to the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping. Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association also attended the hearings and supported passage of these laws. PSAA is also thankful to Babar Badat, Senior Vice President of FIATA for attending most of the hearings (there were five in all). We also acknowledge the role of Captain Haleem Siddiqui, Chairman, Marine Group of Companies who attended the last day of hearing and endorsed PSAA's point of view.
We must also recall the role of Captain Anwar Shah, Ex-Director General (Ports & Shipping), who laid the foundation of this process in 2005. The next steps are for the Bills to be placed before the National Assembly for a full house vote and thereafter before the Senate. PSAA hopes these steps will be completed as soon as possible.-PR
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