RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) and Bahria Foundation signed on Saturday Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish transhipment hubs at the country’s sea and air ports.

Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Kamran Michael, who was present at the singing ceremony held at a local hotel, termed the development as a major achievement of the government to realisation of its policies toward expanding the country’s exports.

The well-attended event was organised by the PIFFA to celebrate the Association’s second Excellence Award. The gathering also became a platform for the signing of MOU which envisages opening of new vistas in the country’s trade and commerce.

The federal minister said the country’s first transhipment hub was aimed at creating 5,000 job opportunities and billions in taxes for the government.

He welcomed the timely decision of the government to seek accession to TIR Convention for the transit trade to landlocked Central Asian Countries, thus exploiting the dual benefits of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Transhipment Hubs. He opined that these measures will make the motherland an “Asian Tiger”, a dream of the country’s prime minister.

He termed the MOU `breakthrough’ for the establishment of cargo villages and transhipment hubs at the country’s three seaports in Karachi and Gwadar; and at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports.

He also requested for suitable land to build PIFFA Logistics Academy, with its own funds, in the vicinity of KPT or Lalazar Area and assured that the ports would mobilise resources in this respect.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association’s chairman Asim Saeed Khan, said that PIFFA is representing the interest of Freight Forwarders and Logistic Service Providers to the government and its relevant departments, besides providing door-to-door service.

The freight forwarders’ role was being enhanced by the establishment of a transhipment hub as a joint venture with Bahria Foundation, he added.

Later, Excellence Awards were awarded to various shipping lines, airline, shipping agents, stevedores in 19 different categories. Lifetime Achievement Awards were also conferred to Industry Veterans.