ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is accelerating maritime reforms to strengthen its ports as regional trans-shipment hubs and boost trade resilience, as the government seeks to position the country as a key economic gateway amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said Pakistan’s ports, Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port, are being repositioned under a government-led strategy to enhance regional connectivity and ensure uninterrupted trade flows.
Speaking at a seminar on maritime trade in the Indian Ocean region, Chaudhry said the reforms are aimed at reducing logistical bottlenecks and improving efficiency.
“Swift and coordinated decisions in the national interest have reduced risks to trade, energy and logistics,” he said.
He said a high-level committee formed under the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in March has already delivered operational gains, including record trans-shipment volumes at Karachi Port, zero backlog at Port Qasim and expanded activity at Gwadar Port.
Chaudhry said customs reforms, introduced in coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue, replaced full cargo scanning with risk-based management, cutting clearance times and lowering export costs. Charges for exporters at Karachi Port were reduced by 60%, while perishable goods now face minimal inspection delays.
“Pakistan has turned challenges into opportunities, maintaining trade continuity and building shipping resilience,” the minister said, adding that the country could emerge as “a rising regional economic power” through sustained maritime modernization.
Karachi Port Trust Chairman Shahid Ahmed said additional freight rail links and upgraded port infrastructure would further strengthen logistics capacity, as Pakistan advances its broader strategy to become a regional maritime and trade hub.
