The government of Pakistan has implemented major initiatives to advance the transshipment sector, aiming to establish the country as a pivotal regional logistics hub. These efforts focus on expanding cargo handling capabilities and streamlining operations at the nation’s primary ports.
Significant capacity enhancements have been made across Pakistan’s ports. Karachi Port Trust is now fully operational with a handling capacity of 20,000 TEUs, while Port Qasim’s capacity has risen to 12,500 TEUs. Gwadar Port has also been activated, offering a capacity of 5,000 TEUs. This expansion is designed to optimize container throughput and facilitate smoother transshipment cargo flows.
At Karachi Port, approximately 8,000 containers have been received and 3,500 dispatched, leaving a current inventory of 4,500 containers. Port Qasim is also experiencing increased activity, currently holding 3,485 containers, reflecting growing utilization within Pakistan’s port infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the government has revised transshipment regulations through a statutory regulatory order (SRO), permitting cargo storage at off-dock terminals. The storage capacity at these terminals has been expanded to accommodate up to 60,000 containers, a strategic move intended to alleviate congestion and shorten turnaround times.
To reduce operational costs, the National Logistics Corporation has halved scanning charges, with potential discounts reaching 75 percent for vessels carrying full transshipment cargo. Terminal operators have also lowered scanning fees by 25 percent, and port fees for transshipment vessels have been cut by as much as 60 percent. These financial incentives are expected to attract more international shipping lines to Pakistan’s ports.
In a significant development, Pakistan has introduced sea-to-air transshipment services and enabled handling of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) and break-bulk cargo. Authorities are also exploring sea-to-road transshipment options to further enhance the country’s connectivity and logistics network.
Officials emphasize that these comprehensive measures represent a major stride toward transforming Pakistan into a robust regional transshipment hub. Continuous improvements in scanning technology and operational protocols are underway to ensure greater efficiency and transparency across the port system.
