Pakistan proposes direct feeder lines to cut freight expenses with Malaysia

Pakistan and Malaysia are exploring a new cooperation framework to expand maritime training and deepen port-sector collaboration.

The development comes following a high-level meeting between Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Datuk Hasbi bin Habibollah and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, on the sidelines of maritime engagements in the United Kingdom on Tuesday.

During the discussion, both sides reviewed ongoing cooperation and explored new avenues to strengthen bilateral collaboration in the maritime sector, according to an official statement.

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Chaudhry pushed for deeper operational cooperation on trade routes. He proposed establishing direct feeder shipping lines between Pakistan and Malaysia, with onward connectivity to Indonesia, to cut transport durations and reduce freight costs.

The minister observed that the proposed feeder links could give a major boost to Pakistan’s rice exports to Southeast Asia, while simultaneously streamlining edible oil imports from Malaysia and Indonesia.

He added that the proposal aligns with Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen maritime connectivity with ASEAN economies, where demand for Pakistani agricultural products has been steadily rising.

For Malaysia, the initiative offers an opportunity to broaden its maritime training network and enhance regional logistics integration as part of its transport-sector modernisation agenda.

Chaudhry also offered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing seafarer training and facilitating the exchange of marine cadets. He noted that the proposed MoU would allow Pakistan to send its marine cadets to Malaysian academies, while Malaysia would, in turn, send its cadets to Pakistan for specialised training programs.

“This exchange will contribute to the professional development of young seafarers in both countries and strengthen long-term cooperation in the maritime sector,” the maritime minister was quoted as saying in the statement.

Chaudhry offered Malaysia access to Pakistan’s expanding expertise in digital port solutions, including the Pakistan Single Window platform, now fully operational at Karachi Port and Port Qasim.

Islamabad has been promoting its digital-trade infrastructure as a model for reducing cargo-clearance times, improving transparency, and enhancing overall trade facilitation.

Both sides agreed to hold further technical consultations in the coming weeks to finalise the MoU’s scope, define training modules, and establish mechanisms for implementing the cadet-exchange programme.