Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed the establishment of a Maritime Business Facilitation Centre aimed at consolidating port-related services for exporters and importers. This initiative is expected to reduce delays and simplify trade procedures by bringing necessary services under one roof.
According to Press Information Department, the proposal was put forward during a meeting chaired by the minister to assess the progress on various port-related projects. The envisioned centre would host representatives from relevant organisations in a single location, thus enabling businesses to access multiple port services without the need to visit different offices.
The minister elaborated that each organisation would provide a dedicated focal person to aid businesses, and an integrated system linked with the respective main offices would facilitate the processing and tracking of applications and cases. This initiative is anticipated to lower costs associated with trucking, containers, storage, demurrage, and vessel delays, benefiting enterprises, particularly first-time users of port services.
Chaudhry also mentioned that standardising procedures could enhance fee collection efficiency and minimise leakages, while increased trade volumes might boost revenue from port services, cargo handling, customs-related activity, and associated logistics. The proposed centre aims to improve coordination among maritime-sector organisations, eliminate procedural bottlenecks, and make port services more accessible to businesses engaged in international trade.
To gather input on the centre’s structure and operations, Junaid Chaudhry has called a meeting with government departments and maritime-sector stakeholders. This meeting will include officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Gwadar Port, the Marine Fisheries Department, and Korangi Fish Harbour, alongside representatives from banks, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, fisheries associations, and other private-sector stakeholders. The minister has instructed officials to consult all relevant stakeholders and incorporate their recommendations into the proposal to ensure the facility effectively meets the operational needs of exporters and importers.