Pakistan has completed 84 of the 99 reform action points under the Prime Minister's Task Force on Maritime Reforms, marking significant progress in the government's drive to modernise the country's ports, shipbuilding and fisheries sectors. The update was shared by Task Force Co-Chair Iftikhar Ahmad, Secretary Maritime Affairs Nadeem Mahbub and a member of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) during a joint press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Port Rankings Show Notable Improvement
Speaking on the occasion, Iftikhar Ahmad said Pakistan's ports had recorded notable improvements in global rankings. He said the Karachi Port climbed 30 places, moving from 99th to 69th, while Port Qasim improved by 18 places, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and competitiveness.
Reforms in Shipbuilding and Fisheries
Highlighting reforms in the shipbuilding industry, he said the government had abolished sales tax on shipbuilding materials in the current federal budget, expressing confidence that the measure would encourage investment and boost domestic shipbuilding. He added that significant improvements had also been made in the shipbreaking and fisheries sectors.
Vision for Regional Transhipment Hub
Secretary Maritime Affairs Nadeem Mahbub said the government's vision was to transform Pakistan into a regional transhipment hub. He noted that cargo handling at Karachi Port reached 55.8 million tonnes over the past year, while Port Qasim handled 47 million tonnes during the same period. He further announced that the Pakistan Shipping Policy 2026 had been finalised after extensive consultations and would be presented to the federal cabinet later this month for approval. A dedicated transhipment policy has also been prepared to facilitate both local and international shipping clients, he added.
Faceless Assessment and Cargo Management
The FBR official said the introduction of the faceless assessment system at ports had contributed to increased revenue collection by streamlining customs procedures. He added that a state-of-the-art cargo management system had also been introduced to improve the movement of goods from ports to inland destinations.
