Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry accompanied by Chairman Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, visited the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) to discuss export growth and port facilitation measures.
During the visit, REAP Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir briefed the delegation on the performance of the rice sector, describing it as a $4 billion industry with a target to reach $5 billion. He also highlighted plans to bring nearly 30 million acres of land under cultivation to boost production and exports.
Addressing the meeting, the minister urged exporters to set an ambitious target of $10 billion in rice exports and assured them of full support from his ministry and port authorities. He emphasized that evolving regional dynamics have created new opportunities for Pakistani ports, noting that the government has prioritized facilitation over revenue generation to attract trade.
Highlighting recent reforms, the minister said several measures have been introduced to improve port efficiency. These include the launch of roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) services, permission for bulk cargo shipments, and amendments to rules allowing the disposal of old consignments at ports. He added that auctioned containers’ demurrage charges have been written off to clear congestion, while feeder vessel services have also been initiated.
In a landmark development, Junaid Chaudhry noted that port operations continued uninterrupted even on Eid, with 16 vessels handled during the holidays, a first in Pakistan’s history. He further said that less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo handling has been permitted and TIR regulations have been amended to streamline transit trade.
The minister underscored Pakistan’s strategic geographic importance and highlighted the introduction of bunkering services at Karachi Port. He said the port has begun providing bunkering facilities to large vessels in deep-sea waters, with an estimated potential of Rs300 billion in trade.
Junaid Chaudhry also revealed that dredging work at Karachi Port has commenced, which is expected to significantly reduce costs for the business community. Upon completion within three months, vessel turnaround time is projected to improve from seven days to just two days, generating an estimated economic benefit of Rs30 to 40 billion to business men.
Speaking on the occasion, the KPT chairman revealed a 60% reduction in port charges and the removal of demurrage fees to facilitate trade and ease the cost burden on the business community.
