Govt Targets 70% Reduction in Port Container Clearance Delays

In a decisive move to enhance trade efficiency, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has unveiled plans to reduce shipping container dwell time at Pakistan’s ports by 70%. The initiative, led by Federal Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, involves the formation of a high-level committee tasked with identifying and removing systemic bottlenecks in the clearance process. During a strategic meeting at the Federal Board of Revenue headquarters, the committee—chaired by Additional Secretary Umar Zafar Sheikh and comprising representatives from Customs, the FBR, Karachi Port Trust, and other key stakeholders—was instructed to deliver actionable recommendations within 10 days. Complementing this structural reform, the ministry will launch a cutting-edge monitoring room equipped with drones and AI technology to digitally oversee each stage of the container clearance workflow, from docking to final customs release. Minister Chaudhry emphasized the economic toll of prolonged clearance times on importers and exporters and stressed the government’s commitment to enhancing operational transparency and efficiency. These reforms are part of broader advancements in Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure, which include the launch of a feeder shipping service in partnership with DP World and the NLC, and the rollout of the country’s first flagged containerized shipping service to Gulf nations earlier this year.