Islamabad: Senate Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs in its meeting has recommended that work on laying fibre optic cables from Karachi to Gwadar should be started at the earliest so the functioning of Gwadar Port Authority can take off effectively.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Nuzhat Sadiq here at the Parliament House on Thursday.

The committee also recommended expediting work on policy approvals regarding ferry service between Pakistan and Iran for pilgrims going to see holy places in Iran and Iraq.

In the inaugural meeting, detailed and comprehensive briefings were given on Port Qasim Authority, Gwadar Port Authority, Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, Pakistan Marine Academy, Directorate General of Ports and Shipping, Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority among others.

The committee decided to hold a series of meetings at the Headquarters of all departments and authorities under the ministry to be better able to assess their issues and problems and contribute to their resolution.

The meeting was attended among others by Senators Fida Muhammad, Muhammad Akram, Saleem Zia, Samina Saeed, Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, Sitara Ayaz, Secretary Maritime Affairs and heads of all its attached departments and institutions working under the ministry.