Pakistan approves host of transshipment measures to stregthen maritime sector

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has approved series of initiatives related to transshipment with the aim of strengthening Pakistan’s maritime sector amid evolving regional security dynamics following the US-Israeli attack on Iran, it emerged on Thursday.

The initiatives have been approved based on recommendations of the high-level committee constituted by the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The committee is headed by Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.

According to an official handout, the decisions mark a :significant step toward positioning Pakistan as a competitive and resilient transshipment hub in the region”.

Among the key initiatives, the government has approved the handling of bulk and break-bulk cargo under transshipment arrangements. The press release said the mesure was expected to significantly enhance port throughput, attract new shipping lines, and facilitate regional trade by enabling the efficient movement of commodities such as grains, coal, minerals and project cargo.

The government also approved transshipment of vehicles through specialised roll-on/roll-off vessels. This includes the handling of cars, SUVs, and other wheeled cargo.

“The initiative is poised to open new avenues for the automotive logistics sector, reduce handling times, and position Pakistan as a key node in regional vehicle distribution networks,” the press release said.

Furthermore, the government permitted the handling of less than container load cargo under transshipment operations. The statement said this would enable consolidation and redistribution of smaller consignments, offering greater flexibility to traders and significantly boosting Pakistan’s attractiveness for global freight forwarders and logistics providers.

Talking to Dawn, the maritime affairs minister said that these approvals had been made in view of transformations in the regional trade routes due to geopolitical and security challenges.

“By diversifying cargo handling capabilities and enhancing operational flexibility, we plan to capture a larger share of transshipment traffic,” Chaudhary said, adding that the move would have a long-term positive impact on ports of Pakistan.

In a statement, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs said that the initiative was expected to increase port revenues and foreign exchange earnings, generate employment opportunities in logistics and allied sectors, strengthen Pakistan’s integration into global supply chains and enhance the country’s strategic maritime footprint.

Meanwhile, Pakistan also plans to establish the Pakistan Maritime Energy City (PMEC), an ambitious initiative aimed at meeting both domestic and international energy storage and re-export requirements as part of a broader strategy to expand Pakistan’s economic footprint.

In a meeting chaired by the minister for maritime affairs, it was proposed that the energy city would offer international stakeholders the facility to store oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for onward export.

The energy city would also be integrated with ports’ infrastructure and a high-level committee constituted by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has started identifying suitable land for the project and preparing a comprehensive development plan.

Consultations with all stakeholders, particularly provincial governments, would be carried out prior to the project’s formal launch.