ISLAMABAD: Officials of India and Pakistan will hold technical talks in the port city of Karachi from Thursday to review the India-Pakistan Shipping protocol of 1975 to enable ships of both countries to pick up cargo for a third country party.

The two-day talks are a follow up to the decision by the Joint Study Group, to enhance economic and commercial cooperation, of the two countries at its meeting in New Delhi in the second week of August.

The 1975 protocol does not allow shipping companies of both the countries to pick up transhipment cargoes for a third country party.

Under the protocol Indian flag vessels can only pick up cargoes from an Indian port to be dropped at a Pakistani port, and vice versa. The shipping industry is of the view that if the protocol is amended to lift the restriction, cargo flow between Indian and Pakistani ports could increase dramatically.

The Shipping Ministry has already taken up the issue of amending the shipping protocol with the External Affairs Ministry and is believed to have secured its green signal. Similarly Pakistan is also in favour of the proposed amendment.

Since the April 2003 peace process, India and Pakistan have agreed to take steps to improve trade and commercial cooperation and upgrade shipping, rail, air and postal links.

During the visit of the then External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, to Pakistan both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on establishment of communication links between the coast guards of the two countries.

Ferry service

Besides the amendments to the Shipping protocol, a proposal for a ferry service between Karachi and Mumbai has been on the table for nearly two years now.

During this month, both sides are scheduled to hold technical level talks on the commencement of a bus service between Nankana Sahib and Amritsar. Nankana Sahib, birth place of Guru Nanak, is situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

Next week the trial run for the service between Amritsar and Lahore would also be held. The trial run which was to have taken place in October had to be postponed due to the earthquake.

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