Karachi, June 23, 2025 – In a move aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s trade competitiveness, the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has announced a 50% reduction in port charges for exporters.
This landmark decision aligns with the federal government’s broader reform agenda to strengthen the maritime sector and facilitate economic growth through improved port operations.
The announcement was made during a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, chaired by Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, where the strategic roadmap for the maritime sector was discussed. The reduction in PQA charges is expected to offer major cost relief to exporters and logistics companies utilizing Port Qasim, one of Pakistan’s key trade gateways.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Chaudhry reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment by making ports more accessible and efficient. “The reduction in port charges at PQA is a vital step toward our goal of facilitating trade, empowering exporters, and encouraging local industry,” he said.
He further revealed plans to establish an Aquaculture Industrial Zone at Port Qasim, aimed at promoting marine-based business ventures and boosting aquaculture-related exports. He noted that Pakistan’s first Marine and Aquaculture Policy will soon be launched to provide a regulatory and development framework for sustainable growth in these sectors.
The minister also highlighted the achievements of the Marine Fisheries Department, which successfully met its annual export target of $410 million. The ship recycling sector, another important component of maritime activity at PQA, generated over Rs6 billion in revenue this year—demonstrating the port’s growing role in national economic output.
Chaudhry emphasized that modernization of port infrastructure and a focus on green shipping practices are central to the government’s vision. He underscored the importance of aligning PQA operations with international standards, promoting eco-friendly initiatives, and enhancing port-based logistics to attract foreign investment and trade partnerships.
“The Ministry of Maritime Affairs is fully invested in unlocking the untapped potential of our coastline,” he said. “Reforms like reduced port charges at PQA are part of a long-term strategy to transform the maritime sector into a dynamic engine of economic progress and export-led growth.”