Sea Port / Dry Port and Maritime Updates.

[hydrabadi_arab]

Keti Bandar port will have 4000 acres SEZ. Gwadar failed because of security but this port have great potential being in Sindh.

Karachi land prices no longer make sense for industrial expansion. Keti bandar SEZ land will cost 80-90% less then in Karachi.

Billions wasted on Gwadar, you cannot develop even a village if there is no security let alone a province. Let baloch first come to terms with what they want. They clearly don't want development and progress. Their nationalists justify terrorism.

racism>play victim> become terrorist>no investment> capital flight >no development>racism> play victim> become terrorist>no investment> capital flight >no development

Even Karachi have yet to recover from decades of target killings, huge chunk of its capital moved to Lahore>Islamabad.

Keti Bandar port idea is old but its finally moving forward because Sindh/Karachi terrorism problem has been solved for a decade. Chinese may finally agree to invest in it.

 

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Pakistan plans major upgrades to ports under maritime reform drive​

The reforms are aimed at boosting trade activity by upgrading the port system.​

ISLAMABAD: The Prime Minister’s Task Force on Maritime Reforms is taking practical steps to improve the performance and efficiency of Pakistan’s ports, with a focus on modern facilities, administrative reforms and faster cargo handling.


The reforms are aimed at boosting trade activity by upgrading the port system and introducing more effective management measures.

A specialized training institute meeting international standards is also being planned to develop skilled workers for the maritime and port sectors.

An enhanced monitoring system will be established for annual and surprise inspections of ports, off-dock terminals, customs stations and other trade-related facilities.

Authorities also plan to upgrade inspection centers, introduce 24-hour operations and provide modern scanning equipment under customs rules.

The Prime Minister’s Task Force on Maritime Reforms, along with the National Logistics Cell (NLC) and other relevant institutions, is coordinating efforts to improve the port system. Proposals include modern equipment, CCTV surveillance and enhanced security to make cargo inspection faster and more transparent.


Authorities are also working on measures including portable weighing scales, regular calibration and expansion of high-value cargo areas. Improved facilities and better operational scheduling are expected to address bottlenecks and increase cargo-handling efficiency.

Officials said upgrading port infrastructure and implementing administrative reforms would strengthen Pakistan’s trade capacity and improve its competitiveness in international markets.

 

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Karachi Port’s liner shipping connectivity hits record high​

Karachi Port’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI) reached a record 343.02 in the second quarter of 2026, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday.

According to a statement, the port’s PLSCI rose from 309.81 in the first quarter of 2026 to 343.02 in the second quarter, marking its highest level in the period covered by the available data.

The PLSCI measures a port’s integration into the global liner shipping network, with connectivity data covering around 900 ports worldwide.


The minister said the increase reflected stronger connectivity between Karachi Port and international liner shipping services, which could support trade flows, improve access to global markets and create opportunities for exporters and importers.

Karachi Port’s PLSCI stood at 329.24 in Q2 2024 before declining to 319.20 in Q3 and 323.67 in Q4. It was recorded at 321.70 in Q1 2025 and 321.84 in Q2, before falling to 298.56 in Q3.

The index recovered to 321.91 in Q4 2025 and 309.81 in Q1 2026 before reaching 343.02 in Q2.

Chaudhry also highlighted an improvement in Pakistan’s overall Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) ranking from 35th to 34th.

He said the government was working to improve port services, facilitate shipping activity and create an environment conducive to trade and investment.

The minister added that stronger port connectivity could help Pakistani businesses connect more efficiently with international markets and strengthen the country’s role in regional and global trade.

He said the government would continue working with port authorities, shipping lines and other stakeholders to further strengthen maritime links.

 

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Karachi port terminal doubles bulk vessel capacity to 120,000 tonnes​

Completed dredging deepens KGTML-Noatum Ports berths to 15 metres; upgrade could cut vessel turnaround to three days and freight costs by up to 35%

Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML)-Noatum Ports has doubled its bulk vessel handling capacity to 120,000 metric tonnes following the completion of dredging works that increased berth depths to 15 metres, according to the Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

The deeper berths will allow the terminal to accommodate larger vessels, including post-Panamax ships. Its previous bulk vessel handling capacity stood at 60,000 tonnes.

The terminal’s expansion is also expected to significantly reduce the time ships spend at port. KPT said vessel turnaround time could fall to three days from 13 days, while the ability to accommodate larger ships could generate potential freight cost savings of 25-35%.

The next phase of the development will focus on expanding cargo handling and storage infrastructure.

Plans include the installation of four high-capacity ship unloaders and two ship loaders, alongside 14 food-grade silos and dedicated export warehouses.

Together, the facilities are intended to create an integrated cargo-handling chain covering the unloading and loading of vessels, storage and movement of bulk imports and exports.

The planned silo complex is projected to handle up to nine million tonnes, while the export infrastructure will have a capacity of 8.5 million tonnes.


KPT said the expanded infrastructure would strengthen Pakistan’s bulk cargo and food supply chain by allowing faster vessel operations, more efficient storage and smoother movement of cargo.

The development is also expected to improve trade efficiency and strengthen Karachi Port’s role as a major maritime gateway for Pakistan.

 

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Pakistan-flagged ships are immune from being fired upon at the Strait of Hormuz. PNSC revenue is up 150%​

Pakistan’s national shipping carrier expanded its fleet just as the Strait of Hormuz became one of the most dangerous shipping routes in the world


There are few businesses in which geopolitics can transform the economics quite as rapidly as shipping. Pakistan National Shipping Corporation appears to have had a particularly good demonstration of that phenomenon during the financial year ending June 30, 2026.

PNSC reported consolidated revenues of Rs59.5 billion, up an extraordinary 58% from Rs37.6 billion a year earlier. Revenue from the shipping business itself increased 50% from Rs33.7 billion to Rs50.6 billion, while income from other operating activities more than doubled from Rs3.6 billion to Rs8.6 billion. Gross profit consequently surged 92%, from Rs11.2 billion to Rs21.5 billion.

The bottom line grew much more modestly. Consolidated net profit increased about 5% to Rs21.55 billion from Rs20.45 billion, with earnings per share rising to Rs108.77 from Rs103.22. The board proposed a final cash dividend of Rs10 per share on top of the Rs10 interim dividend already paid.


The discrepancy between booming operations and relatively pedestrian profit growth has an explanation. Other income, which had been unusually large in FY25, nearly halved from Rs13.25 billion to Rs6.92 billion, while finance costs jumped from Rs430 million to Rs2.31 billion. Last year's numbers had also benefited from approximately Rs4.4 billion in gains on the disposal of two ageing Aframax tankers.

Strip away those movements, however, and the underlying shipping business had a spectacular year. And the timing is interesting. For the nine months through March 2026, PNSC had generated Rs36.6 billion in consolidated revenue. By June, that number had risen to Rs59.5 billion.

 

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MSC restores Karachi-Europe shipping link amid exporter concerns over freight costs​

• Chaudhry welcomes MSC’s decision to reinstate the PREMIUM IPAK service

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday said that direct shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports had been restored, providing relief to exporters facing longer transit times and increased freight costs due to disruptions on international shipping routes, read a statement.

The minister said Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had reinstated its PREMIUM IPAK service in response to exporters’ demand for a dedicated, direct Europe service.

Under the restored service, MSC will make a weekly call at Karachi Gateway Terminal International (KGTI), connecting Karachi with key European destinations through Colombo, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre and London Gateway.


“The restoration of a dedicated Europe service is an important development for our export-oriented industries, particularly the textile sector, which has been facing increased transit times and logistics costs because of disruptions to international shipping routes,” Chaudhry said.

He said textile exporters had recently apprised him of the difficulties caused by changes in shipping routes, particularly those linked to the situation in the Red Sea.

“Exporters told me in a recent that longer vessel journeys were increasing transportation costs and delivery times for shipments to European and US markets. These additional costs and delays have affected the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters,” he said.

The minister said the government was taking up the concerns of the export sector with shipping lines and other relevant stakeholders to improve maritime connectivity and facilitate international trade.

“Reliable and predictable shipping connectivity is essential for Pakistan’s exporters. Our focus is to ensure that the maritime sector supports trade, reduces logistical bottlenecks and strengthens Pakistan’s access to international markets,” he said.

He welcomed MSC’s decision to reinstate the PREMIUM IPAK service, saying the weekly Karachi call would give exporters a more direct link to key European markets.

“The restored service will improve connectivity with major European ports and provide exporters with greater options for planning and moving their shipments,” he said.

The minister, however, noted that the reinstatement of the service should not be viewed as a resolution of the wider challenges affecting international shipping routes.

“Disruptions to established shipping routes continue to have implications for global trade. We will continue working with the shipping industry and exporters to address connectivity and logistics issues and to strengthen Pakistan’s position in international trade,” he said.

Chaudhry said the government remained committed to improving port and shipping services and creating a more efficient maritime logistics system to support exporters and enhance the country’s trade competitiveness.

The federal minister also lauded the efforts of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed and the management of Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL) for restoring the shipping link between Karachi and major European markets.

KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed said measures were under way to further improve the efficiency of the maritime logistics system.

He said the restored shipping connection would improve access from Karachi to key European markets and facilitate the country’s exporters.