Overview
- Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, who met officials Thursday, ordered ports to clear stuck containers in 30 days by shifting cargo off-dock and fast-tracking auctions to cut congestion.
- Karachi handled 8,313 transshipment containers in 24 days, surpassing all of 2025, with roughly three quarters of diverted cargo routed through Karachi and the rest handled at Port Qasim.
- The government introduced steep fee cuts in mid-March, offering up to 60 percent off port dues for ships carrying heavy transshipment loads, which helped draw traffic as Gulf insurance costs spiked.
- Carriers are adjusting routes, with Hapag-Lloyd adding ad hoc calls to Port Qasim next week and OOCL launching a Southeast Asia–India–Pakistan loop on April 26 that includes Karachi.
- Gwadar has started receiving transshipment calls, including the M/V HMO LEADER, as officials tout free storage and new clearances, while experts say lasting gains hinge on faster customs, digital systems, and cleaner governance.