ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Thursday instructed authorities to expedite the process of building more shipyards in Pakistan, as officials identified four locations in the country’s southwest where more shipyards can be built.
Pakistan currently has only one shipyard which is located in the southern port city of Karachi. In February 2021, Pakistan’s then-federal government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the provincial Balochistan government to build a shipyard in the southwestern port city of Gwadar.
On Thursday, Kakar chaired a meeting where the current situation regarding the construction of shipyards in Pakistan was reviewed.
“Participants of the meeting were briefed that new shipyards can be constructed at Surbandar, East Bay, Kappar and Pishukan areas of Balochistan,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The prime minister directed relevant authorities to expedite the process of building additional shipyards in the country.”
In 2019, Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Defense Production noted that India has over 43 shipyards while Bangladesh has 23, which enabled it to become a ship-exporting country.
During the meeting, Kakar urged authorities to be mindful of the environmental impact of constructing shipyards. He also directed officials to come up with an effective strategy to thwart illegal trawling in Pakistan’s coastal areas.
PM Kakar calls for expediting process to build more shipyards in Pakistan
https://arab.news/2nvjt
PM Kakar calls for expediting process to build more shipyards in Pakistan
- Caretaker PM Kakar chairs meeting to review construction of shipyards in Pakistan
- Officials identify four locations in southwestern Pakistan where shipyards can be built
Pakistan’s deputy PM discusses ways to boost economic, trade ties with Iran
- Both countries agreed in August to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2028
- Pakistan and Iran have been working to stabilize relations after strained security ties
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar presided over a meeting to discuss economic and trade cooperation with Iran, the foreign office said on Friday, as the neighboring countries seek to expand ties.
The development took place during an inter-ministerial meeting on Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations chaired by Dar in Islamabad. Pakistan and Iran have been working to stabilize ties following a period of strained security relations.
Both countries have been working to enhance bilateral trade, setting up border markets and exploring barter trade to circumvent banking and currency restrictions. Sanctions and foreign exchange shortages remain key hurdles for Iran, making these alternative systems central to its trade strategy with Pakistan.
“The meeting reviewed ongoing cooperation across a range of sectors and discussed ways to further enhance economic and trade ties,” the foreign office said in a statement.
“The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening engagement with Iran in key priority areas.”
In December, the foreign ministers of Iran and Pakistan vowed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade and connectivity while working for regional peace.
Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian also visited Pakistan in August, during which both countries signed agreements to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2028.
