Minister for maritime affairs, HBL chief call on PM

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi and HBL Chairman Sultan Ali Allana called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Wednesday.

Zaidi briefed the prime minister about the affairs of his ministry, especially the measures taken at seaports and other related issues in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak. He told the prime minister that the Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) had approved the proposal of relaxation in the payment of demurrage by ships in case of over-stay at the ports. The proposal approved by the ECC on the direction of the prime minister would now be formally endorsed by the cabinet. According to the ECC approval, this facility would be available till May 31, he added.

The minister for maritime affairs told the prime minister that despite the difficult situation of coronavirus, the country’s ports were kept operational in contrast to other big ports of the region which had faced closure.

The HBL chairman appreciated the prime minister for giving the historic and largest-ever economic stimulus package for the provision of relief to the masses in view of the coronavirus situation.

He congratulated the prime minister for running the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme in a transparent way on the basis of merit. The prime minister lauded the services and assistance of the HBL in delivering the Ehsaas Emergency Cash to the deserving.