Govt Speeds Up Establishment Of One-Door Port Facilitation Centre In Karachi
Listen3 min
Read aloud by your device’s built-in synthetic voice, not a recording. Needs a browser that can read aloud.
✧ GENERATE BRIEFING
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has issued urgent directives to accelerate the establishment of a dedicated single-window port facilitation centre in Karachi, designed to centralize and streamline all trade and port-related business services under one roof. During a comprehensive high-level weekly review meeting evaluating ongoing maritime initiatives, fisheries development, and the expansion of Pakistan’s burgeoning blue economy, the minister emphasized that reducing bureaucratic friction and expediting administrative procedures are paramount for improving the national ease of doing business.The extensive review session also evaluated strategic policy frameworks, including the forthcoming National Maritime Policy, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, and the proposed Shipping and Transshipment Policy. Key developmental milestones discussed included progress on the Port Qasim Sea-to-Steel Project, the Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex, the rehabilitation of Karachi Port Trust’s Manora Workshop, and infrastructure upgrades at Gwadar Port.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has directed officials to accelerate work on establishing a one-door facilitation centre in Karachi to provide port-related business services under a single platform.
The minister issued the directive during a weekly review meeting focused on the performance, projects, and strategic initiatives of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. The session evaluated comprehensive measures aimed at facilitating international maritime trade, strengthening the domestic fisheries sector, and expanding Pakistan’s evolving blue economy.
Streamlining Trade and Cutting Red Tape
The proposed One-Door Cell is structured to eradicate procedural friction for businesses engaged in port trade by bringing all administrative services under one roof.
- Eliminating Multi-Office Visits: Business operators will no longer be required to make repetitive visits to disparate regulatory offices.
- Focal Representation & Monitoring: Relevant institutions are mandated to deploy dedicated focal persons on-site, with application progress tracked through a centralized, transparent digital monitoring framework.
- Stakeholder Integration: The framework incorporates coordinated inputs from Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Gwadar Port, shipping lines, customs clearing agents, and financial institutions to minimize compliance costs and reduce turnaround times.
Policy Frameworks and Sectoral Infrastructure
Beyond trade facilitation, the high-level review assessed major institutional milestones and infrastructure ventures:
- Policy Developments: Progress updates were presented on the finalization of the National Maritime Policy, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, and the proposed Shipping and Transshipment Policy.
- Port Qasim Projects: Discussions covered heavy industrial initiatives, including the Sea-to-Steel Project and the blueprint for the Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.
- Modernization Works: Progress on the rehabilitation of KPT’s Manora Workshop and infrastructure milestones at Gwadar Port were closely reviewed.
- Human Resource Development: The meeting evaluated the expansion of the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund to build specialized human capital for the maritime sector.
Minister Chaudhry instructed all relevant departments to maintain rigorous implementation momentum, ensuring that the facilitation center and supporting reforms materialize rapidly to solidify Pakistan’s position as a regional transshipment and maritime trade hub.
