KARACHI: On Thursday, Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced that the proposed 5 % tariff increase at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) for FY 2026‑27 will be frozen. The move is expected to save importers, exporters and the public more than Rs 500 million (≈ $1.8 million).
Karachi Port, the nation’s largest gateway, handled more than 2,000 vessels in the last fiscal year, marking its busiest period in eight years, the ministry said.
The surge was driven by heightened shipping activity and improved operational performance as the United States‑Iran conflict, which started in late February, redirected cargoes toward Pakistan. Recent hostilities have now ceased.
Chaudhry explained that the decision to keep the tariff increase frozen aligns with the government’s policy of easing the financial burden on businesses and fostering domestic trade and exports.
“Ports are vital to Pakistan’s economy, and any rise in port charges directly raises the cost of doing business,” his ministry quoted him as saying.
“Freezing the tariff hike will help Pakistani exporters stay competitive globally while preventing higher costs for importers using the port facilities,” he added.
The minister noted that the decision supports Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s ‘blue economy’ vision, which seeks sustainable growth and improved livelihoods through marine resource utilization. He did not specify how long the freeze would remain in place.
“This initiative will boost trade activities, strengthen the export sector and give the national economy a positive boost amid current challenges,” Chaudhry stated.
Pakistan has recently stepped up efforts to attract foreign investment in its maritime and logistics sectors, part of a broader push to develop the blue economy, expand port infrastructure and leverage its proximity to major global shipping lanes.
The nation aims to expand regional trade connectivity via its Arabian Sea ports, especially Gwadar, which Islamabad touts as a strategic transshipment hub linking Central Asia, the Gulf, Africa and South Asia.