ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday invited leading terminal operators to form a consortium and invest in the proposed “Energy City” project, while encouraging private sector participation in the development of a multipurpose terminal at Port Qasim.
The invitation was extended during a meeting held at the minister’s office with a six-member delegation of terminal operators led by Eqan Ali Khan, Chief Executive Officer of FAP Terminal.
According to an official statement, the minister assured the delegation that the government would take all necessary steps to support the sustainability and long-term growth of port-related businesses.
During the meeting, the delegation urged the government to rationalise taxation by introducing a single-digit tax regime and to classify port services as an industry similar to the telecommunications sector in order to create a more business-friendly regulatory and investment environment.
Minister Chaudhry acknowledged the importance of policy consistency and investor confidence in strengthening Pakistan’s maritime sector and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving structural challenges and improving ease of doing business at ports.
He also shared details of the proposed “Energy City” initiative, which is planned to include bonded storage facilities for multiple forms of energy.
According to the statement, various potential sites would be identified based on feasibility studies and suitability for energy storage and supporting infrastructure.
Highlighting recent operational reforms, the minister said decades-old containers and pallets — some stored for nearly 50 years — had recently been cleared from the premises of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency.
He described the clearance drive as part of broader efforts aimed at enhancing port performance and streamlining cargo handling operations.
The meeting concluded with both sides agreeing to maintain close coordination between the ministry and private stakeholders to unlock the full potential of Pakistan’s maritime sector and accelerate blue economy initiatives across the country.
