- Says during recent visit to Kazakhstan, CAS leaders had expressed ‘deep interest’ in using Pakistan’s ports for trade
- Stresses Lyari Expressway should be kept open for cargo traffic 24/7 for uninterrupted delivery of goods from Karachi Port
KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that modern and accessible seaports could help the country boost its foreign exchange reserves, saying the government was taking steps for the development of seaports for the provision of shortest corridor to the regional countries, especially to the Central Asian States.
“A spur to sea trade by the Central Asian States, China and other countries of the region via Pakistani ports, the country could earn worth billions of dollars as foreign revenue every year,” the prime minister expressed these views during a visit to Hutchison Port, South Asian Pakistan Terminal during a daylong visit to Karachi where he was given a briefing, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier said that during his visit to Kazakhstan, leaders of Central Asian States (CAS) had expressed “deep interest” in using Pakistan’s ports for trade, emphasising the country’s “key importance in the region”.
وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا دورۂ کراچی
وزیرِ اعظم کی کراچی پورٹ ٹرسٹ آمد، بندرگاہوں اور نیشنل فلیگ کیرئیر پاکستان نیشنل شپنگ کارپوریشن پر تفصیلی بریفنگ۔بندرگاہوں میں جدید نظام اور ان تک رسائی میں مزید بہتری سے پاکستان اربوں ڈالر کا زرمبادلہ حاصل کر سکتا ہے۔
پاکستان نیشنل… pic.twitter.com/GfXSL5P2Ts— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 7, 2024
“Modern system in ports and further improvement in accessing them, Pakistan can earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange,” he said, adding that he will increase exports from the value addition industry by developing the existing ports in Karachi.
“Steps should be taken to reduce the customs clearance time by installing modern equipment and machinery at Port Qasim and Karachi Port,” the statement read.
Furthermore, the prime minister stressed on the “uninterrupted delivery of goods” from Karachi Port, adding that for this reason the Lyari Expressway “should be kept open for cargo traffic 24 hours a day”.
“A comprehensive action plan for the regulation of shipping laws should be prepared and presented soon,” the statement said, adding that the prime minister had directed that the fees for LNG ships at Port Qasim to be reduced and fixed according to prevailing rates at the international level.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding Karachi Port Trust, Port Qasim Authority and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation, today in Karachi. pic.twitter.com/y2hXbd9LWG
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) July 7, 2024
Furthermore, the statement also said that the prime minister had instructed Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to “formulate and present a comprehensive plan to reduce its cost and make its operations effective”.
“Development of private sector in the country, ease of doing business and convenience for investors are the top priorities of the government,” the PMO wrote.
The visit comes after PM Shehbaz invited Tajikistan to “avail the facilities of Pakistani seaports” for transit trade while on a two-day official visit to the Central Asian country this week.
“The prime minister informed the Tajik president about the operationalisation of Gwadar seaport and offered Tajikistan the opportunity to avail the facilities of Pakistani seaports,” a joint statement issued by the two countries said.
“It was highlighted that the Pakistani seaports offer the most efficient, shortest, and economic route for the Central Asian countries including Tajikistan to the markets in the Middle East and beyond”.
On the occasion, he directed the Chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to prioritize installation of latest scanners on Pakistani ports.
The prime minister said that the customs authorities in collaboration with the ports authorities should ensure immediate steps for complete utilization of the sea ports in Pakistan.
The prime minister was briefed that process for installation of latest scanners on ports by the FBR, was in the final stages which would enable rapid scanning of containers in the shortest time with the assistance of latest gadgets and artificial intelligence.
He said for increasing country’s exports, the government was taking measures on priority basis.
Federal ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Jam Kamal Khan, Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh, Ahad Khan Cheema, Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, chairman FBR and other relevant officials accompanied the prime minister.
The prime minister was apprised that Hutchison Port, South Asian Pakistan Terminal was amongst the few global terminals located in deep seas, which was being automatically operated upon.
The terminal had been equipped with latest technology and scanners and its operations were of the international standards.
The prime minister was further informed that port had the capacity to handle the shipment of 35,00,000 containers annually.
The prime minister appreciated the latest operations of the port.
