Pakistan begins construction of PNSC container ship at Karachi Shipyard

Pakistan on Tuesday launched the construction of a 1,100 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container ship for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) at Karachi Shipyard, in a move aimed at reducing reliance on foreign shipping lines and strengthening the country’s maritime capacity.

The project was formally inaugurated by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at a steel-cutting ceremony held at the shipyard.

Addressing the ceremony, the minister said the container vessel would be built entirely using domestic resources, reflecting growing confidence in Pakistan’s shipbuilding industry. He added that the project would help save foreign exchange while enhancing the operational capacity of the PNSC fleet.

Chaudhry said expanding the national maritime fleet was essential to strengthening the supply chain and supporting trade activity across the country. He noted that the shipbuilding initiative would also create employment opportunities for skilled workers and contribute to the development of the maritime workforce.

The minister said Karachi Shipyard was emerging as a key hub for national maritime development, adding that shipbuilding and ship repair remained central pillars of Pakistan’s maritime policy.

Highlighting the sector’s importance, he said around 95% of Pakistan’s trade is conducted through sea routes, underscoring the need for a strong and self-reliant maritime industry to support sustainable economic growth.