Pakistan and Malaysia are advancing their cooperation in the maritime sector, particularly in training and port collaboration, following a ministerial meeting. Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Datuk Hasbi bin Habibollah, and Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, discussed ongoing partnerships and new initiatives to strengthen their bilateral relations.
A key proposal from Chaudhry is to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would enhance seafarer training and facilitate the exchange of marine cadets between the two nations. This initiative aims to send Pakistani marine cadets to Malaysian academies while allowing Malaysian cadets to train in Pakistan, contributing to the professional growth of young seafarers and fostering long-term collaboration in the maritime sector.
In addition to cadet exchange, the Pakistani minister highlighted the country’s expertise in digital port solutions, particularly through the operational Pakistan Single Window platform at Karachi Port and Port Qasim. This digital infrastructure aims to streamline cargo clearance, improve transparency, and facilitate trade, making it an attractive model for Malaysia.
Chaudhry also advocated for operational cooperation aimed at enhancing trade routes. He proposed the establishment of direct feeder shipping lines between Pakistan and Malaysia, with connections to Indonesia. This initiative is expected to reduce transport times and costs, potentially boosting Pakistan’s rice exports to Southeast Asia while simplifying edible oil imports from Malaysia and Indonesia. Such feeder links support Pakistan’s broader strategy to increase maritime connectivity with ASEAN economies amidst rising demand for its agricultural products.
For Malaysia, this collaboration offers an opportunity to expand its maritime training network and integrate logistics more effectively as part of its transport-sector modernization efforts. Both nations agreed to further technical consultations over the coming weeks to solidify the MoU’s details, outline training modules, and establish implementation mechanisms for the cadet-exchange program.
Overall, this meeting represents a significant step in enhancing maritime collaboration between Pakistan and Malaysia, showcasing efforts to leverage training, technology, and improved trade connectivity to benefit both countries.
Source link
