Sea Port / Dry Port and Maritime Updates.

ECC allows NLC to take over shipping corporation

Khaleeq Kiani
May 20, 2026

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Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, chairs a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) at Finance division, Islamabad, om May 19. —PID

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved the transfer of management control, along with a 30 per cent shareholding, in Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) for optimum and integrated freight transport through shipping and road networks.

The ECC meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also approved more than a 70pc increase in the subsistence allowance for Kashmiri refugees of 1989 and seven supplementary grants worth around Rs8.634 billion.

An official statement said the ECC “granted in-principle approval for restructuring of PNSC of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs through sale of 30pc shareholding and transfer of management control to NLC” — an army-run logistics firm working under the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

The summary for restructuring and divestment to NLC was moved by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs following an earlier approval by the prime minister in February this year.

The ECC directed the authorities concerned to expedite the restructuring and consolidation process to tap emerging maritime and transhipment opportunities.

PNSC is Pakistan’s national shipping carrier engaged in the transportation of dry bulk and liquid cargoes across the globe. It operates a fleet of 12 ships with a carrying capacity of 938,876 tonnes of deadweight. It also has a real estate business and a ship repair workshop.

According to official sources, the consolidation is aimed at expanding the national shipping fleet and reducing foreign freight costs. Under the prime minister’s approval, the vessel fleet is to be expanded from 12 to more than 50 in five years, with projected annual foreign exchange savings of $5bn to $6bn in freight costs by handling more sea-route cargo.



Soon PM house and President House will also be handed over to PMA for better facility management.
 
Some Pakistani passenger ships that used to take pilgrims to Jeddah are as follows:
The name of the ship is the owner.
Safina Arab (First) Pan Islamic Steamship Com. Ltd.
Safina Murad Pan-Islami Steamship Work. Ltd.
Safina-e-Haj Pan-Islami Steamship Work. Ltd.
Safina Abid Pan Islamic Steamship Work. Ltd.
Ship of Arabia (Second) Pan Islamic Steamship Com. Ltd. Shams Crescent Shipping Lines Ltd. /PNSC
 
MV_Shams started cargo service from January 1960 with regular passengers between east and west Pakistan, who used to travel an average of 13 rounds per year on the Karachi/Chittagong/Karachi route.

This journey continued till the end of the fall of Dhaka.

After that, MVShams deployed at the service of pilgrimage. During the year 1972 and 1973, MV Shams was carrying pilgrims in the Hajj season before the gunpowder tunnels were laid in the Pasrur river.

Fortunately, ship was able to pull out the pilgrims with more than 3500 passengers in an emergency situation. and safely reached Karachi.

MV Shams, was scrapped in 1994.
 

Probe ordered after two ships collide near Karachi port

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter
May 30, 2026

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KARACHI: Two ships collided off Karachi Port on Thursday due to the alleged negligence of their captains, officials said on Friday.

They said that the federal government had ordered a probe into the collision between MV Niwa and MV Papu.

No casualties or injuries were reported in the accident, and port operations remained unaffected, they added.

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said in a statement that the accident occurred on the night of May 28 outside the operational limits of Karachi Port due to negligence on part of the masters of both vessels.

“The causes of the maritime accident are being investigated,” he stated.
 
 

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