Pakistan launches online ship registration

Business Recorder reported on Friday that Pakistan’s online ship and boat registration service is now accepting applications. Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said vessel owners can apply electronically, without travelling to government offices.

The Mercantile Marine Department registers merchant ships, fishing boats, sailing vessels and harbour craft under existing maritime laws. The ministry is also preparing online fee payments, with a meeting involving the State Bank of Pakistan planned to discuss the electronic system; the minister said this facility could be operational within 15 days.

The government says digital records could reduce paperwork and improve transparency, while creating a central database of vessels and owners. That information could support coastal climate-risk planning, cyclone warnings, fisheries management and emergency evacuations.