KARACHI, Jan 3: The Master Mariners Society of Pakistan (MMSP) has expressed reservation over the qualification and professional acumen of the members of the newly formed Task Force on maritime industry.

The MMSP, a representative body of around 500 master mariners, the highest grade of certificate of competency for seafarers, has expressed its views about the body in a letter to the Planning Commission of Pakistan.

The main objection raised by the society was that the incumbent members of the task force were non-professional without any proper qualification required for such a technical body. They also have no in-depth knowledge of ship-owning and port management.

The MMSP has contributed enormously towards the development of maritime legislation, policy and planning of ports and shipping sector of the country. The society, because of expertise of its members and their achievements, enjoys a high professional status, both at home and abroad, the letter maintained.

However, the MMSP has pointed out that for the first time the government has ignored the professional body, which has always been on the penal of all such committees since decades. It alleged that the Planning Commission does not seem to have even consulted the relevant ministry before selecting the members of the task force.

The society strongly feels that a task force on maritime has been formed at this point of time when global shipping bubble has burst and there is an opportunity to salvage the national maritime industry. Hence it should have chosen such professionals, who have rich background knowledge of ship-owning and port operations.

With the ship-owning in the country at its lowest ebb having only 14 ships under Pak flag, it is imperative that necessary brainstorming and finding a way out in this recessionary trend is made.

The society stressed the need to induct professionals, achievers in the fields of maritime sciences strictly on merits in order to find a solution and salvage the most neglected sector of the economy. The ports are lifeline and shipping as an industry is considered a backbone of economy for any country, the MMSP said in its letter.

This is the third task force on maritime, which is expected to hold its first meeting on Jan 5 at the KPT head office. The first task force was formed in 1997 headed by Capt Haleem Siddiqui, and second in 2005 with Capt Anwar Shah in chair.