ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s maritime sector achieved a record profit of Rs100 billion in 2025, driven by wide-ranging reforms focused on improving port efficiency, reducing costs and resolving long-pending policy bottlenecks.
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ annual performance report, the reforms spanned ports, shipping and fisheries, while laying the groundwork for harnessing the country’s blue economy potential. Karachi Port handled an all-time high of 54 million tonnes of cargo, with average vessel dwell time cut by 24 to 36 hours due to improved coordination among port authorities, customs and other agencies. As a result, vessel turnaround time was reduced to about five days, matching regional benchmarks.
Significant savings were achieved through cost-cutting measures. Reduced overtime at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) alone saved nearly Rs70 million per month, while the abolition of 2,152 redundant positions across maritime organisations lowered human resource costs by several billion rupees. In addition, the recovery of around 150 acres of encroached land by KPT and the Port Qasim Authority, valued at approximately Rs110 billion, strengthened the sector’s asset base.
The establishment of the country’s first bunkering facilities at Karachi Port and Port Qasim is expected to save foreign exchange and boost transshipment activity. Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said a major milestone was the approval of the National Maritime Policy, providing a unified framework for shipping, ports, fisheries and maritime security. He added that the National Shipping Policy aims to expand the Pakistan-flagged fleet to curb reliance on foreign carriers, while the forthcoming National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy targets $2bn in annual seafood exports and the creation of about two million jobs.
At Gwadar Port, 72 acres of free-zone land were handed over to operators, and bids were invited for an off-dock terminal on 100 acres to attract transit trade from Central Asia and other regions.
Story by Kalbe Ali
