Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized on Sunday that Pakistan stands to gain billions of dollars through the modernization of its ports, capitalizing on the country’s strategic location in international maritime trade.
During his one-day visit to Karachi, the Prime Minister chaired a session where he received briefings on the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Port Qasim, and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC).
Attending the high-level session were federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal Khan, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) chairman, and others.
PM Shehbaz stressed the need to reduce Customs clearance time through the installation of modern machinery. He also highlighted the importance of improving connectivity of KPT through road and rail networks to facilitate easier access for goods.
He directed for the Lyari Expressway to operate 24/7 to ensure uninterrupted supply of goods to KPT, and emphasized on connecting the port to the Malir Expressway to enhance delivery of goods. Furthermore, he instructed to enhance goods’ supply by integrating the port with a rail network.
The Prime Minister instructed the Port Qasim Authority to align charges for LNG cargo vessels with international rates, aiming for competitiveness.
He called for a comprehensive strategy to regulate shipping lines, and directed PNSC to streamline its expenditures.
PM Shehbaz underscored the development of the private sector, ease of doing business, and facilitation of investors as top priorities, noting that the national economy was stable and progressing towards growth and development.
He emphasized that the federal government was extending maximum facilities to exporters to boost the country’s export sector.
During the briefing, PM Shehbaz highlighted Pakistan’s strategic geographical importance in the region, citing discussions with leaders of Central Asian states and the Russian President during his visit to Kazakhstan. He mentioned that Pakistan provides a convenient route for Central Asian states to access maritime trade, and expressed interest from these countries in utilizing Pakistani ports for trade.
PM Shehbaz reiterated that Pakistan could earn billions of dollars through port modernization, and expressed Islamabad’s commitment to enhancing exports through value-addition industries after port upgrades. He directed port authorities to expedite the installation of modern machinery and take effective measures to fully leverage the advantages of the country’s ports.
