Sea Port / Dry Port and Maritime Updates.

[RealNapster]

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.

 

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[ghazi52]

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

 

[ghazi52]

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.

 

[ghazi52]

Probe ordered after two ships collide near Karachi port​

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter
May 30, 2026



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.

 

[Fatman17]

Pakistan seeks Saudi investment in ports amid expanding maritime ambitions

KARACHI: Pakistan on Wednesday pitched investment opportunities in its ports, shipping and logistics sectors to Saudi business leaders, as it seeks to expand maritime trade infrastructure and strengthen its position as a regional transit and transshipment hub. The outreach comes as Islamabad...

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[hydrabadi_arab]

Fleet to double under Blue Economy plan​

Cargo handling up 5% to 79m tonnes; seafood exports target $500m as offshore exploration continues

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KARACHI:
The government has set out an expansive Blue Economy agenda for FY2026-27, including plans to more than double Pakistan's national shipping fleet, invest heavily in maritime infrastructure, expand fisheries development and continue offshore energy exploration, even as key indicators from the outgoing fiscal year point to modest growth across the sector.

According to the Annual Plan 2026-27 made public alongside the budget, shipping, fisheries, port infrastructure and offshore energy have been identified as central pillars of the government's strategy to increase the economic contribution of Pakistan's coastal and marine resources.

The roadmap comes at a time when the maritime sector is in a transitional stage, as cargo handling has also seen support from shifting regional trade routes amid the Iran conflict, which has diverted additional shipping activity towards Pakistani ports. The development has to some extent covered up the sector's relatively small contribution to economic activity despite Pakistan's strategic location and coastline stretching more than 1,000 kilometres along the Arabian Sea.

During July-March FY2025-26, total cargo handled at the country's three major ports – Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port – reached 79 million metric tonnes, reflecting a 5% increase over the corresponding period of the previous year, according to official documents.

While the increase points to some improvement in port activity, overall cargo volumes remained closely linked to broader trade and economic trends that have been subdued in recent years.

The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), the country's state-owned shipping company, added three vessels during the outgoing fiscal year, increasing its operational fleet to 14 ships.

The government now plans to significantly expand that capacity through the PNSC Fleet Development Plan, under which the national fleet is expected to grow from 14 to 30 vessels over the coming years. The expansion is likely to increase Pakistan's share in the transportation of its own imports and exports, much of which is currently handled by foreign shipping companies.

The fisheries sector, another key component of the Blue Economy strategy, recorded seafood exports worth $405 million during July-March FY2025-26. The government expects exports to reach $500 million by the close of the fiscal year.

Pakistan's seafood exports continue to rely largely on markets in the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. However, industry stakeholders have repeatedly highlighted infrastructure constraints, including inadequate cold storage facilities, limited processing capacity and deficiencies in fish handling systems, as factors restricting export growth and value addition.

The government has also earmarked substantial resources for upgrading maritime infrastructure under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Key projects include the Korangi Fish Harbour (KoFHA) Export Infrastructure Project costing Rs1.048 billion, the Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) Infrastructure Upgradation project worth Rs10.69 billion, and the Gadani Shipbreaking Modernisation project estimated at Rs12.9 billion.

Questions were sent to relevant authorities; however, responses could not be obtained as officials were not reachable outside working hours.


The Gadani shipbreaking yard remains one of the largest ship recycling centres in the world and is an important source of scrap metal for domestic industries. Authorities expect the planned investment to improve infrastructure and operational standards within the sector.

The government's maritime strategy also places renewed emphasis on offshore energy exploration. Official documents show that 23 offshore oil and gas blocks covering a combined area of 53,510 square kilometres have been awarded for exploration activities. Planned investment in these blocks stands at approximately $80 million over a three-year licensing period.

Exploration activities in the awarded blocks are expected to continue during FY2026-27 as authorities seek to assess the commercial potential of offshore hydrocarbon resources.

Alongside oil and gas exploration, the government plans to undertake technical and feasibility studies for offshore wind energy projects in the Sindh Wind Corridor and the Hingol National Park Corridor. The studies form part of broader efforts to evaluate the potential of marine-based renewable energy resources as Pakistan looks to diversify its energy mix.

In addition to infrastructure projects and resource exploration, policymakers are preparing a series of regulatory initiatives aimed at providing a long-term framework for maritime development. The government plans to secure approval of the National Maritime Policy, National Shipping Policy and National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy during the next fiscal year.

The proposed policies are expected to address issues related to governance, investment, sectoral development and resource management across different segments of the maritime economy.

Plans have also been outlined to expand inland and coastal aquaculture projects in Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab in an effort to increase fish production and support employment opportunities in rural communities. Another initiative included in the annual plan is the issuance of the country's first ferry service licence, which authorities hope will support marine tourism and improve maritime connectivity.

The government's targets for FY2026-27 represent one of the most comprehensive attempts in recent years to position the maritime sector as a driver of economic activity.

However, the scale of the planned expansion contrasts with the pace of growth recorded during the outgoing fiscal year. Cargo volumes, fisheries exports and fleet additions all registered incremental gains, while several long-standing challenges related to infrastructure, investment and competitiveness remain unresolved.

With major spending commitments now planned across shipping, fisheries, shipbuilding, shipbreaking and energy exploration, attention is likely to shift towards implementation and the extent to which the proposed investments translate into higher trade volumes, stronger exports and greater economic activity.

The annual plan suggests that the government sees considerable untapped potential in Pakistan's coastal economy. Whether that potential can be converted into measurable economic gains will depend on the execution of projects, the effectiveness of new policies and the ability of public institutions to deliver on the targets set for the coming years.