Sea Port / Dry Port and Maritime Updates.

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Lloyd's removes Pakistan from war-risk maritime list​

• Decision to improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports and strengthen the confidence of international shipping companies

July 30, 2026
By BR Web Desk

In a major development for Pakistan’s maritime sector, the country and its territorial waters have been removed from the Listed Areas of Lloyd’s Market Association’s Joint War Committee (JWC), a move that will help reduce war-risk insurance premiums and shipping costs, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday.

The Joint War Committee Listed Areas are high-risk maritime zones designated by London marine insurers, specifically representing the Lloyd’s Market Association (LMA) and the International Underwriting Association (IUA).

 

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Describing the development as a historic achievement, the minister, in a statement, said the decision would improve the competitiveness of Pakistani exports and strengthen the confidence of international shipping companies, traders and investors in the country.

He said the move could also make Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar more attractive to global shipping lines and investors, creating opportunities for regional trade, cargo transit and transhipment.

Chaudhry said the issue was taken up on March 13, 2026, when it was noted that Pakistan and its maritime areas had remained on the JWC’s Listed Areas for decades. Their inclusion had resulted in additional war-risk insurance premiums and surcharges for Pakistani shipping and trade, he said.

The prime minister subsequently constituted a special committee, headed by Junaid Chaudhry, to pursue the matter. The committee held negotiations with Lloyd’s officials and presented Pakistan’s case on the basis of technical evidence and factual data.

 

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The minister said that sustained negotiations eventually resulted in Pakistan being removed from the list.

He said the decision would reduce the additional financial burden on the country’s maritime trade and help Pakistani exports compete more effectively in international markets.

Chaudhry said the development was an important step towards making Pakistan a major regional logistics, transit and transhipment hub.

 

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KPT handles 55.44mt of cargo in FY 2026​

August 1, 2026
Recorder Report

KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) handled 55.44 million tons of cargo in the financial year ended June 30, 2026, up 2.76 percent from 53.95 million tons a year.

According to the port authority’s annual performance review comparing FY 2025-26 with FY 2024-25, released by KPT, the throughput gain was driven almost entirely by imports, which climbed 5.82 percent to 35.91 million tons.

Exports moved the other way, falling 2.44 percent to 19.53 million tons.

 

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A breakdown of cargo by type shows dry bulk cargo as the standout category, rising 12.41 percent to 9.06 million tons.

Liquid bulk cargo also expanded, up 7.93 percent to 13.35 million tons, with the report noting the gain was consistent on both the import and export sides.

Dry general cargo was the one category to contract, declining 1.45 percent to 33.13 million tons.

Container handling reached 2.75 million TEUs, up 3.67 percent year-on-year.

South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited (SAPTL) retained the largest share of terminal traffic at 59.6 percent, ahead of Karachi International Container Terminal (24.7 percent) and Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited, or KGTL, (15.5 percent). KGTL posted the fastest terminal-level growth at 7.09 percent.

Ship traffic also rose. KPT recorded 2,115 vessel calls, up 7.36 percent from 1,970 the previous year, a faster pace of growth than the increase in tonnage, meaning the average cargo parcel per ship call shrank, from roughly 27.4 kilotons to about 26.2 kilotons.

 

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Chinese firm proposes €2 billion integrated maritime industrial complex at Port Qasim​

Plan includes revival of steel jetty, shipbuilding and shipbreaking facilities, and port-linked steel mill


News Desk

December 18, 2025
2 min read

China’s Shandong Xinxu Group has proposed a €1 billion to €2 billion Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex (IMIC) at Port Qasim, focusing on shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and steel production linked to port operations.

A five-member delegation led by Shandong Xinxu Group Chairman Hou Jianxin met Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry to discuss the proposed investment, which aims to strengthen Pakistan’s maritime and heavy industrial base.

According to officials, the proposed IMIC comprises three main components: revival of the Iron Ore and Coal Berth (IOCB), commonly known as the steel jetty; establishment of shipbuilding and shipbreaking facilities; and development of a steel mill integrated with port infrastructure.


The IOCB was originally built to handle bulk cargo such as iron ore and coal for Pakistan Steel Mills and can accommodate vessels between 55,000 and 75,000 deadweight tons. The jetty is linked to the steel mill through a dedicated conveyor system spanning several kilometres, connecting directly to stockyards and blast furnace areas.

During the meeting, the maritime minister welcomed the Chinese group’s interest and asked the delegation to submit an unsolicited proposal outlining the project’s scope, implementation plan, and feasibility. He said the proposal should include technical, financial, and environmental assessments, along with a clear development roadmap.

Following submission of the proposal, a joint committee comprising officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and representatives of Shandong Xinxu Group, led by Additional Secretary Umar Zafar Sheikh, will review the plan.

The minister stressed that any future development must align with Pakistan’s industrial priorities, including job creation, value addition, and environmental sustainability.


The IMIC concept was first presented by the minister in November 2025 during an event hosted by the Port Qasim Authority in Karachi, where the port was recognised as the world’s ninth most improved container port. Branded as the “Steel-to-Green Sea” initiative, the proposal links ship recycling with domestic steel production to reduce import dependence and maximise the use of recyclable materials.

If approved, the project would mark one of the largest recent investments in Pakistan’s maritime and industrial sectors and could further position Port Qasim as a regional hub for heavy industry and logistics.