ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed the authorities concerned to prepare a business plan for Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to save $4 billion through maritime trade.

`Present a business plan for PNSC within two weeks, which should include a strategy to save the annual $4 billion burden on the national exchequer,` PM Shehbaz directed the authorities while presiding over a high-level meeting regarding matters related to the corporation.

The prime minister also directed the authorities to acquire ships on lease to expand the PNSC fleet.

`Due to a reduced number of ships in the PNSC fleet,the country has to spend approximately $4bn annually from the national exchequer on maritime trade.

The prime minister wasinformed that PNSC currently possessed 10 ships of various types, with a combined cargo-carrying capacity of 724,643 tonnes.

The meeting wasattended by Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and senior PNSC officials.