KARACHI, June 30: Country's ports and ships will start observing from Thursday security plans in accordance with the International Ships and Port Security (ISPS) Code as laid down by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The two ports - Karachi Port and Port Qasim - have ten facilities that include container terminals and bulk oil piers and their security plans would comply with the ISPS Code of IMO.

With this Pakistan would be amongst the first few countries out of 164-member body who would be meeting the deadline of July 1, 2004 laid down by the International Maritime Organization.

According to Director General Ports and Shipping office, Pakistan has met the deadline in a short period of five months, as the IMO in February 2004 asked its member states to adopt ISPS Code from July 1, 2004.

It is more commendable that the adoption of ISPS Code has been made without getting any financial or technical assistance from any world donor agency or institution. Consequently, Pakistan met the mandatory regime of ISPS Code as per IMO requirement and now ranks amongst leading countries complying International Ship and Port Security code which will benefit trade and economy with uninterrupted operation.

Director General Ports and Shipping (GD P&S) Capt Anwar Shah told Dawn that Pakistani ports "were safe, are safe and will remain safe for all vessels calling our ports."

Responding to a question, he said that all the port facilities in the country would have security officer who would be conversant with security and ship board management. Under the ISPS Code all weak areas of the ports had been given security cover in order to avoid terrorist acts.

After identifying such areas Capt Anwar Shah said that plans to comply with ISPS Code were drawn up by Director ISPS Code, Lt-Col Javed Akhtar which were going to be observed from Thursday, July 1, 2004.

The ISPS Code has been handled by the DG Port and Shipping secretary Mir Ejaz Talpur which enabled the country to meet the short deadline. He said that basically there were three security levels to be followed under the ISPS Code.

Giving other details, he said under normal conditions minimum appropriate protection measures shall be maintained at all time. However, in case of any incident, the DG Ports and Shipping said, additional security level would be imposed which, if needed be, could be extended.

Capt. Anwar Shah said that Pakistan had been affected by terrorist acts, therefore, it took a leading role in the implementation of ISPS Code for ports and shipping sector of the country.

Referring to his recent meeting at the IMO Council, he said that the secretary general of the organization appreciated the efforts made by Pakistan and 13 other countries in adopting ISPS Code in a short period.

He said: "we have already accomplished such tasks as formation of and nomination of Recognized Security Organizations (RSOs) and early this year also identified port facilities security arrangement plans."

The DG Ports and Shipping appreciated the role played by the stakeholders who efficiently submitted their port facilitation security arrangement within time. All such factors, he said, enabled them to achieve the deadline of July 1,2004 for implementing the ISPS Code.