Junaid Anwar Chaudhry Proposes Maritime Business Facilitation Centre for Exporters and Importers
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed establishing a Maritime Business Facilitation Centre to bring port-related services for exporters and importers under one roof, aiming to reduce delays and streamline trade procedures. The proposed initiative could also make Pakistan’s maritime business environment more accessible for businesses using port services.
The federal minister made the proposal while chairing a meeting to review progress on port-related projects. The proposed centre would bring representatives of relevant organisations together at a single location, allowing businesses to access multiple port services without visiting different offices.
One-Window Access to Port Services
Under the proposed Maritime Business Facilitation Centre, a dedicated focal person from each organisation would assist businesses. An integrated system linked to the respective main offices would also allow applications and cases to be processed and tracked.
The initiative could reduce costs related to trucking, containers, storage, demurrage, vessel delays and administrative procedures, benefiting enterprises, exporters, importers and particularly first-time users of port services, according to the minister.
Standardised Procedures Could Improve Fee Collection
The minister also said standardising procedures could improve fee collection and reduce leakages. At the same time, higher trade volumes could generate additional revenue from port services, cargo handling, customs-related activity and associated logistics.
The proposed centre is intended to improve coordination among maritime-sector organisations, reduce procedural bottlenecks and make port services more accessible to businesses engaged in international trade.
Government and Maritime Stakeholders to Provide Input
Junaid Chaudhry has called a meeting of government departments and maritime-sector stakeholders to seek their input on the centre’s structure and operations.
The meeting will include officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Gwadar Port, the Marine Fisheries Department and Korangi Fish Harbour, as well as representatives of banks, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, fisheries associations and other private-sector stakeholders.
The minister directed officials to consult all relevant stakeholders and incorporate their recommendations into the proposal to ensure that the facility addresses the operational needs of exporters and importers.
