The Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association (PCDMA) said in a statement today that the recent unusual increase in transshipment activities at Karachi Port is a major positive sign for Pakistan.
In the first 24 days of March 2024, Karachi Port handled a volume equivalent to the entire previous year.
The Chairman of the Pakistan Chemicals and Dyes Merchants Association
Saleem Vali Muhammad attributed this dramatic change to global shipping lines choosing Pakistan as an alternative route due to regional instability and alleged closures in Dubai.
In a statement,
the Chairman of PCDMA highlighted that Karachi Port processed 8,313 containers in just the first 24 days of March. He termed this extraordinary increase in transshipment activities as a major positive sign for the country’s economy.
Furthermore, Mr. Muhammad stated that Port Qasim has also seen a significant increase in cargo volume, which he described as evidence of growing confidence of international shipping companies in Pakistan’s port facilities.
He urged the government to capitalize on this “extraordinary opportunity” by implementing immediate measures. He specifically called for improving port infrastructure, reducing port-related charges and duties, and adopting policies based on thorough research.
He concluded that a joint effort between the government and the private sector to improve facilities could establish Pakistan as a permanent transshipment hub in the region. He suggested that such a development would significantly benefit the country’s import and export activities and provide a new impetus to the national economy.