PM Shehbaz orders massive port reforms to slash business costs, cargo delay

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed port authorities to drastically reduce cargo “dwell time” and eliminate unnecessary laboratory testing to facilitate the business community and bolster national economic growth.

Chairing a high-level meeting of the private sector working group on port development, the prime minister emphasised that Pakistan’s maritime gateways are the backbone of the economy. He instructed that various port charges be further reduced to make Pakistani exports more competitive in the global market.

The prime minister directed that rail connectivity from ports must be upgraded to improve the inland transportation of goods. Dredging and expansion work at all ports—particularly in Karachi—must be accelerated to accommodate larger vessels, he said, adding that tenders for these projects have already been issued.

To prevent delays, initial cargo testing laboratories should be established within the port premises, and redundant lab tests must be abolished, he ordered.

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Addressing the issue of long-staying abandoned cargo, PM Shehbaz ordered a transparent auctioning system. He directed the establishment of dedicated yards for such cargo and suggested hiring world-renowned firms to manage the process. A new e-bidding system will soon be operational, allowing participants from across the country to bid for abandoned cargo remotely.

The chairman of the working group, Ziad Bashir, presented solid recommendations for port reforms and praised the government’s recent moves. He noted that the transparent privatisation of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has significantly restored the confidence of the business community.

The meeting was briefed that the national ports master plan is moving ahead rapidly and that the port community system has already become operational. Furthermore, as a major relief measure, bulk cargo fees at Port Qasim were recently slashed by over 50%.

The session was attended by federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Ahad Khan Cheema, Musadik Malik, and other senior government officials.

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