Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced the activation of an online Ship and Boat Registration System, which allows vessel owners to submit registration applications electronically, eliminating the need for them to visit government offices. According to Press Information Department, the minister confirmed that the ship and boat registration modules are now fully accessible for online applications, following the completion of necessary measures.

The new system aims to modernize maritime administration by reducing paperwork, thus saving applicants time and money, while also improving transparency and maintaining an updated national database of registered vessels. The Mercantile Marine Department, under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, is tasked with registering merchant ships, fishing boats, sailing vessels, and harbor crafts under the Merchant Ship Ordinance and related laws.

As part of further enhancements, the ministry is working to introduce online payments to facilitate applicants. A meeting between officials of the Mercantile Marine Department and the State Bank of Pakistan is scheduled to discuss the integration of an electronic payment mechanism into the system. The facility of online payments is expected to become operational within the next 15 days, allowing applicants to pay registration fees electronically through a single payment link.

The minister also highlighted the potential implications of digital registration for climate resilience in coastal areas, citing the centralized database of fishing vessels and their owners. Linked with climate-risk mapping, cyclone early-warning systems, and fisheries management, the database could aid authorities in identifying vulnerable fishing communities, improve emergency response, and facilitate timely evacuations during extreme weather events.

This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to digitalize maritime administration and enhance public service delivery.