Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has mandated an immediate acceleration of expansion and dredging operations at all national ports, a move aimed at enabling larger vessels to dock and significantly boosting the country’s trade capacity.
The directive was issued during a meeting on Wednesday in Islamabad concerning the working group established for reforms in Pakistan”s maritime facilities. The Prime Minister emphasised that ports play a crucial role in stimulating business activity and accelerating national economic growth.
As part of the comprehensive overhaul, Mr Sharif also ordered the improvement of rail connectivity from maritime terminals to enhance the inland transportation of freight.
A key focus of the reforms is to streamline operations and reduce costs. The Prime Minister instructed all port-related institutions to strengthen their coordination to minimise cargo dwell time. He also called for a further reduction in various port charges and the introduction of a transparent mechanism for auctioning abandoned freight, for which an e-bidding system is expected to be launched soon.
To manage unclaimed goods, the premier directed the establishment of separate yards for abandoned cargo at ports across the country, to be developed in collaboration with internationally renowned companies. He further advised setting up initial cargo testing laboratories at the ports and eliminating unnecessary laboratory procedures.
During the meeting, officials reported that new investments are already improving port performance. It was stated that work on the National Ports Master Plan is progressing rapidly and the Port Community System has recently been made operational. As an example of cost-cutting measures, it was noted that bulk cargo fees at Port Qasim were recently slashed by more than fifty percent.
Tenders for the expansion and dredging of Karachi”s ports have already been issued, with work scheduled to begin at the earliest. The Prime Minister was briefed on these and other recommendations aimed at improving facilities for the business community, and he appreciated the working group, headed by Ziad Bashir, for its practical proposals.
Speaking at the meeting, Ziad Bashir remarked that the transparent privatisation of PIA has significantly boosted the confidence of Pakistan’s business community.