The Federal Government has abolished the 18% sales tax on the shipping industry in the 2026-27 budget, a move hailed by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry as a major boost for maritime and logistics sectors.
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In a major relief for Pakistan’s import-export sector, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry confirmed that shipping agents have assured authorities that no war risk surcharges are being imposed on in-transit shipments or cargo routed through alternative global trade corridors.
The announcement came during a high-level meeting focused on resolving pressing challenges faced by Pakistan’s exporters, importers, and logistics stakeholders. The minister emphasized that proactive steps are already underway to ensure fair shipping costs, transparent freight charges, and uninterrupted cargo movement.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has called on AD Ports Group to rationalise terminal cargo handling charges in a move aimed at making port operations more business-friendly and globally competitive.
The minister shared these remarks during a meeting at his office with a delegation from AD Ports Group, where both sides reviewed the progress of ongoing projects at Karachi Port Trust (KPT). The discussion focused on improving operational efficiency and strengthening the commercial appeal of Pakistan’s port sector.
Islamabad – Pakistan Customs, operating under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has taken a major step to ensure transparency in the shipping industry by enforcing shipping charges according to official bank exchange rates.
The move effectively ends the long-standing practice of arbitrary and inflated billing by international shipping lines. According to the FBR, all shipping fees are now calculated strictly based on exchange rates provided by authorized commercial banks, in compliance with State Bank of Pakistan regulations.
