In a significant move to establish the nation”s ports as primary regional transshipment centres, the government has introduced substantial tariff incentives, a strategy underscored by Port Qasim successfully processing nearly 3,500 shipping containers of transshipment cargo across two vessels.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, confirmed on Saturday that the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is actively expanding these operations through its Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT).
The minister provided details of the recent activity, revealing that the container vessel Northern Guard, which berthed at the terminal on March 23, processed 3,180 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of transshipment freight. An additional 305 TEUs were contributed by the Nagoya Express during the same period.
Alongside the transshipment focus, regular container operations at the port remained strong, with imports recorded at 21,537 TEUs and exports reaching 29,467 TEUs, indicating robust overall trade activity.
To support the growing volume, Minister Anwar Chaudhry noted that PQA possesses an on-dock capacity of approximately 5,100 TEUs specifically for transshipment goods. This is supplemented by 5,000 TEUs of space at the QICT yard and a further 3,000 TEUs at the PQA’s TSA-A area.
As part of the government”s strategy to attract more international shipping lines, PQA has implemented key financial inducements. These include the elimination of wharfage charges on transshipment cargo and significant reductions in wet charges like pilotage and port dues. Ships with 50% or more transshipment freight will receive a 50% discount, while those carrying between 25% and 50% qualify for a 25% concession.
The initiative extends beyond Port Qasim, as the minister added that Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) is also managing additional transshipment cargo from the vessel DP World Chennai, bolstering Karachi Port’s position as a regional hub.
‘By delivering speed and precision, Karachi Port is reinforcing global confidence in its operational excellence,’ he stated.