ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a comprehensive revamp of Pakistan’s maritime sector with a goal to increase revenue from Rs2,610 billion to Rs8,000-9,000 billion.

Key Objectives of the Plan

The overhaul focuses on:

✅ Ports’ governance & restructuring

✅ Revenue generation & investment facilitation

✅ Digitisation for efficiency

✅ Shipbuilding & repair industry revival

✅ Expansion of fisheries & aquaculture

Implementation Strategy

  • A high-level implementation committee is in place, headed by the Minister for Defence, with members from law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and port authorities.
  • The committee meets fortnightly to monitor progress and ensure timely execution of reforms.
  • 120+ action items have been identified, with strict deadlines for implementation.

Major Reforms Underway

📌 Creation of Pakistan Maritime & Sea Port Authority (PMSPA) by March 30, 2025

📌 Appointment of CEOs for Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Port Qasim Authority (PQA), and Gwadar Port Authority (GPA)

📌 Upgrading Gwadar Port under CPEC, including:

  • Hinterland connectivity
  • Breakwater construction
  • Second-phase expansion to make it a deep-sea port

    📌 24/7 Operations at KPT (currently restricted to 7 hours/day)

    📌 Shipbuilding & Repair Industry Development

    📌 Remodeling Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC)

    📌 National Ports Master Plan Update

    📌 Ports Tariff Standardisation & Reducing Dwell Time

    📌 Improved Trans-shipment Operations & New Terminal Construction

    📌 Third-party Performance Audits of Ports

    📌 Harbor Dredging & Encroachment Removal at KPT

    📌 KPT-Pipri Railway Link Rehabilitation

    📌 Attracting Chinese Seafood Industry Investment in Pakistan

    📌 Cluster Shrimp Farming in Sindh & Balochistan

Challenges & Economic Impact

🔴 KPT’s Inefficiency:

  • 80% of its revenue is spent on salaries & pensions due to mismanagement & overstaffing.
  • Lack of digitisation is increasing operational inefficiencies.

🔴 No Pakistani Cargo Ships:

  • Pakistan does not own a single cargo container ship, leading to a foreign exchange loss of $5-8 billion per year.

🔴 Declining Shipbreaking Industry:

  • Gaddani was once the world’s leading shipbreaking hub but has declined due to high taxes & weak policies.

Why This Matters

Pakistan has one of the most strategic coastlines, but its maritime sector is underperforming due to poor planning & lack of coordination. The revamp plan aims to unlock billions in trade revenue and strengthen Pakistan’s global maritime presence.