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Our Bureau

New Delhi/Mumbai , Oct. 27

In a move that would enhance tonnage under flags of India and Pakistan, the Union Cabinet today approved signing of revised "Protocol on shipping services between India and Pakistan".

It also approved ratification of the protocol by the Government of India. The Revised Shipping Protocol between India and Pakistan will allow lifting of cargo between the two countries by third country vessels as well as lifting of third country cargo by Indian and Pakistani flag vessels from each other's ports, said an official release.

This is expected to enhance tonnage under both the flags and also result in competitive shipping rates.

The Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA) has been seeking an early amendment of the Indo-Pak Shipping Protocol of 1975, which prevented carriage of third country cargo by Indian and Pakistan vessels. "This has been resulting in the loss of huge business opportunities," an INSA official said.

At present, the shipping protocol between the two countries does not allow shipping companies of both the countries to pick up transhipment cargoes for a third country party.

In other words, Indian flag vessels can only pick up cargoes from an Indian port to be dropped at a Pakistani port and vice-versa.

There have been projections by some trade bodies that if the protocol is amended to lift this restriction, cargo flow between Indian and Pakistani ports could increase dramatically.

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