ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that Russia and Central Asian states wanted to trade through Pakistani ports as the world’s major shipping companies were investing here which will make Pakistan an important trade hub in the region.
Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that Central Asian countries had made a lot of progress and development in the last 10 years in that regard but they do not have their own ports and were intending to sell their goods through Pakistan.
He said that the institutions of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs earned a profit of Rs90 billion last year. The profit has increased by 25 percent compared to the previous year and will increase further in the next financial year.
“Pakistan has become a gateway for maritime trade as 95 percent of the country’s trade is done through Karachi Port and Port Qasim,” he added.
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said the present government was making all-out efforts in deepening the country’s ports because the eyes of the whole world are Pakistani port and interested to trade through these ports. “Cheap goods and commodities from Central Asian countries can export through Pakistan and major companies of the world interested in investing in Pakistan, we are examining various aspects in this regard,” he maintained.
When the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government incepted, the minister said that the profit of Karachi Port was Rs2 billion, now its profit has increased to Rs10 billion. Efforts were underway to further improve it, adding that the profit of Port Qasim had increased to Rs40 billion.
“I personally sit with the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) for two hours in the first week of every month to discuss all issues pertaining to the corporation,” he informed. He said that 95 percent of Pakistan’s imports and exports were handled through Karachi Port and Port Qasim.
Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh highlighted the important role of the maritime sector in Pakistan’s economy. He said that the Ministry of Maritime’s trade and oversees were the annual export of 400 million tons of fishery products, adding that Hutchison Ports has announced an investment of $1 billion in Pakistan and AD Ports has announced an investment of $330 million in the next three years.
He said that Central Asian countries and Russia were planning to carry out their trade through Karachi Port, which will make Pakistan an important trade hub in the region.
Moreover, he apprised that some 60 percent of Pakistan’s imports and exports will be done through Gwadar Port, adding that the ministry has suggested that China relocate industries to the Gwadar Free Zone to avoid US tariffs, which would be beneficial for both countries. “Steps are being taken to further improve Gwadar port, including increasing the depth to 14.5 meters, strengthening security arrangements and making 60 percent of public sector imports mandatory through Gwadar,” he highlighted.
He underscored that work was underway to introduce insurance guarantees instead of bank guarantees to facilitate Afghan transit trade. He said that International cooperation includes a $ 2 billion agreement with Denmark and exports of Pakistani fishery products to the European Union and the United States.
