Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Karachi Port handled 74,603 metric tons of cargo over the past 24 hours, while 19 vessels were lined up for arrival, signaling strong operational momentum as Pakistan&rsquo;s ports absorb shifting regional trade flows amid disruptions linked to the Iran war. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) remains central to Pakistan&rsquo;s trade and energy supply chain, with 14 vessels berthed and seven ships departing during the latest reporting period, according to a statement issued by the Press Information Department. Containerized cargo accounted for the largest share of activity at 45,171 metric tons, including 19,303 metric tons of imports and 25,868 metric tons of exports, followed by 11,944 metric tons of bulk cargo, 6,114 metric tons of clinker exports, and 10,352 metric tons of liquid cargo, the minister said. &ldquo;Consistent vessel movements and efficient cargo handling reflect KPT&rsquo;s reliability in supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s maritime trade and energy supply chains,&rdquo; Chaudhry said, highlighting the port&rsquo;s growing role in sustaining economic activity during a period of regional shipping uncertainty. The update comes as maritime traffic across the region remains under pressure from disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Iran war has reshaped shipping routes, increased freight costs and heightened risks to global energy flows. Pakistan&rsquo;s ports have increasingly emerged as key logistics gateways for regional trade continuity. The minister said expected arrivals include major container vessels such as OOCL Nagoya, APL Yangshan, MSC Taylor, Brooklyn Bridge, Ever Urban, and GFS Jade, alongside general cargo carriers transporting industrial goods and commodities. Liquid cargo remains a key part of port operations, with tankers including M.T. Shalimar, Songa Neptune, M.T. Khairpur, and M.T. Sargodha among the incoming vessels, reflecting Karachi Port&rsquo;s critical role in supporting Pakistan&rsquo;s energy imports. The strong vessel movement comes days after Karachi Port recorded a historic milestone with the successful berthing of its first fully trans-shipment general cargo vessel, reinforcing Islamabad&rsquo;s broader strategy to strengthen maritime infrastructure and position Pakistan as a regional trade and logistics hub.

Economy

Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says KPT remains central to Pakistan’s trade and energy supply chain, with 14 vessels berthed and seven ships departing during the latest reporting period.

Karachi Port handles 74,603 metric tons as vessel traffic surges

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced that the dredging of the Karachi Port Trust main channel by Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited, which began on Wednesday, will represent a significant upgrade to maritime infrastructure. In a statement, the minister&nbsp;said that the work follows a formal agreement between KPT and KGTL to enhance navigational capacity and meet rising demands from international shipping.&nbsp; &quot;This initiative underscores the government&#39;s commitment to modernizing port facilities and bolstering Pakistan&#39;s role in regional and global trade. Upon completion within three months, the project will enable KPT to accommodate vessels up to 350 meters in length with a gross registered tonnage (GRT) of 100,000,&quot; the minister said.&nbsp; &quot;This will boost port efficiency by handling higher-capacity ships, reducing congestion, and shortening turnaround times.&quot;&nbsp; The dredging will deepen the upper and lower harbour channels to 14 meters for safer navigation, while 14 berths will be raised to 15.5 meters to accommodate larger ships and expand cargo-handling capacity.&nbsp; The minister said that the project will drive higher trade volumes, slash shipping costs, streamline logistics, and fuel national economic growth.

Politics

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry says that the project will drive higher trade volumes, slash shipping costs, streamline logistics, and fuel national economic growth.

Karachi Port channel dredging to bolster Pakistan's maritime infrastructure

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday formally launched the construction of a 1,100 TEU container ship for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) at Karachi Shipyard,&nbsp;a key step toward reducing reliance on foreign shipping and strengthening national maritime capabilities.&nbsp;Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry inaugurated the project at a steel-cutting ceremony. He descrbied the initiative as a major milestone for the country&rsquo;s maritime sector.&nbsp;He said the container vessel would be built entirely using domestic resources. He stated that the project would help save valuable foreign exchange while improving&nbsp;the operational capacity of the PNSC fleet.&nbsp;The maritime affairs&nbsp;minister stated&nbsp;that expanding the national maritime fleet would strengthen the supply chain and support trade activity across the country. He said the shipbuilding project would also generate employment opportunities for skilled workers, contributing to the development of the maritime workforce.&nbsp;Anwar Chaudhry said&nbsp;that Karachi Shipyard wass emerging as a central hub for national maritime development. He stated that shipbuilding and ship repair remained key pillars of Pakistan&rsquo;s maritime policy.&nbsp;The minister said that nearly 95% of Pakistan&rsquo;s trade is conducted through sea routes.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry inaugurated the project at a steel-cutting ceremony, describing the initiative as a major milestone for the country’s maritime sector.

Pakistan launches PNSC container ship project at Karachi shipyard

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Maritime Affairs has unveiled a long-term program to expand the country&rsquo;s Blue Economy and position Pakistan as a regional maritime hub by 2047, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;The ministry said the new Maritime @100 initiative lays out a roadmap for &ldquo;development projects worth a hundred billion dollars&rdquo; aimed at strengthening the shipping and fisheries sectors. According to Radio Pakistan, officials said the plan is designed to expand maritime capacity, increase exports and create &ldquo;new economic opportunities.&rdquo;&nbsp;Under the shipping-sector component, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation will add 15 ships to its fleet over the next three years. The ministry said the expanded fleet &ldquo;will result in [a] surge of exports and foreign reserves,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan reported.&nbsp;Officials also announced a series of industrial upgrades, including the establishment of Sea to Steel, Pakistan&rsquo;s first green ship-repair and recycling yard, at Port Qasim. A separate $43 million modernization program is planned for the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard to improve safety and operational standards.&nbsp;In the fisheries sector, the National Fisheries Policy 2025&ndash;35 calls for expanded deep-sea fishing, upgraded facilities and increased seafood exports. The ministry said the broader development program &ldquo;will create substantial investment and employment opportunities in the maritime industry,&rdquo; according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;The Ministry of Maritime Affairs said the combined measures underscore Pakistan&rsquo;s long-term strategy to strengthen its maritime footprint and grow sustainable economic activity across the country&rsquo;s coastal and marine sectors.

File Photo - Screengrab of Port Qasim on Nov 5, 2025 (X / Ministry of Maritime Affairs)

The Pakistani Ministry of Maritime Affairs has developed a comprehensive program to strengthen the country’s Blue Economy with support from the Special Investment Facilitation Council, outlining a long-term plan to make Pakistan a regional maritime hub by 2047.

Articles tagged with "Maritime Affairs"

Karachi Port handles 74,603 metric tons as vessel traffic surges

Karachi Port channel dredging to bolster Pakistan's maritime infrastructure

Pakistan launches PNSC container ship project at Karachi shipyard

Pakistan outlines $100 billion maritime plan to build regional hub by 2047