Pakistan’s maritime sector achieved a significant milestone in 2025 by generating a profit of Rs100 billion (approximately $360 million), according to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. This success reflects a year of extensive reforms and development initiatives across the sector.
Transformative Reforms and Policy Advances
The minister characterized 2025 as a transformative year, with over two dozen initiatives implemented involving legislation, digitisation, infrastructure upgrades, and human resource management. These efforts aim to modernize ports, shipping, and fisheries to fully harness the potential of Pakistan’s blue economy.
Pakistan aligned its regulatory framework with international standards, including conventions from the International Maritime Organization and the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling. Central to these reforms was the finalization of the National Maritime Policy, which integrates shipping, ports, fisheries, and maritime security under a unified framework to promote sustainable growth.
Additionally, the government approved a National Shipping Policy focused on expanding the Pakistan-flagged fleet, reducing dependence on foreign carriers, and conserving foreign exchange.
Fisheries and Export Targets
Stakeholder consultations concluded on the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, which targets annual seafood exports of $2 billion and aims to create approximately two million jobs in coastal communities and related industries.
Port Operations and Efficiency Improvements
Operational performance at major ports improved significantly. Karachi Port handled a record 54 million tonnes of cargo, while average vessel dwell time was reduced by 24 to 36 hours through enhanced coordination among port authorities, customs, and other agencies. This resulted in an average vessel turnaround time of five days, aligning with regional benchmarks.
Cost-saving measures also contributed to financial efficiency. For example, reduced overtime at Karachi Port Trust saved about Rs70 million monthly, and eliminating 2,152 redundant positions across maritime entities cut human resource expenses by billions of rupees.
Land Recovery and Infrastructure Development
Efforts to reclaim encroached land were successful, with Karachi Port Trust and Port Qasim Authority recovering 150 acres valued at approximately Rs110 billion, alongside an additional eight acres reclaimed by Port Qasim. The introduction of bunkering facilities at both ports is expected to save foreign exchange and attract transshipment traffic.
Pakistan also launched its first passenger and cargo ferry service to enhance coastal connectivity and offer affordable transport options. At Gwadar’s deep-sea port, 72 acres of free-zone land were allocated to operators, and bids were invited for a 100-acre off-dock terminal to boost transit trade from Central Asia and beyond.
Industrial and Digital Initiatives
The “Sea to Steel” project was announced as an ambitious plan to establish a green maritime-industrial corridor. This initiative integrates ship recycling at Port Qasim with domestic steel production to reduce imports, stimulate the economy, and create a self-sustaining maritime hub. It also aims to revive Pakistan Steel Mills through ship dismantling and recycled steel manufacturing.
Digitisation formed a key part of the reform agenda. The ministry achieved a full transition to paperless governance via a 100 percent e-office rollout, integrated the Pakistan Single Window with the Port Community System to simplify trade procedures, and introduced an electronic public asset disposal system to improve transparency and efficiency.
Education, Social Development, and Business Environment
Reforms extended to maritime education and social welfare, including steps to grant degree-awarding status to the Pakistan Marine Academy. A new advisory body was established to regulate deep-sea fishing licenses, and an endowment fund was created to support children from coastal communities.
The government also enhanced the ease of doing business by offering tax incentives, fostering public-private partnerships, and improving trade routes under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Outlook
Minister Chaudhry emphasized that sustained implementation of these reforms is essential to maintain momentum. The achievements of 2025 provide a strong foundation for leveraging Pakistan’s extensive coastline and strategic location to secure long-term advantages in the blue economy.
