Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has urged rice exporters to pursue an ambitious $10 billion export target, saying the government is prioritising trade facilitation and logistics efficiency to unlock new growth opportunities in the sector.
The minister made the call during a visit to the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), accompanied by Shahid Ahmed, Chairman of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
Highlighting recent operational changes, the minister said port authorities have introduced a range of reforms aimed at reducing logistics bottlenecks and lowering trade costs. These measures include a 60 percent reduction in port charges, the removal of demurrage fees on auctioned containers, the launch of roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) services, and permission for bulk cargo shipments.
He added that new initiatives such as feeder vessel services, less-than-container-load (LCL) cargo handling, and amendments to TIR regulations have been implemented to streamline transit trade and improve cargo movement across ports. Authorities have also allowed the disposal of old consignments to ease congestion and enhance operational efficiency.
Chaudhry said port operations remained uninterrupted during the Eid holidays, with 16 vessels handled during the period, which he described as a first in Pakistan’s history. He noted that ongoing improvements are expected to reduce vessel turnaround time from seven days to two days within three months, generating an estimated Rs30 billion to Rs40 billion in economic benefits for businesses.
The minister further pointed to the launch of bunkering services at Karachi Port, enabling large vessels to refuel in deep-sea waters, with an estimated trade potential of Rs300 billion. He emphasised that Pakistan’s strategic geographic location positions its ports to benefit from shifting regional trade dynamics.
During the meeting, REAP Chairman Malik Faisal Jahangir briefed the delegation on the performance of the rice sector, describing it as a $4 billion industry currently targeting $5 billion in exports. He also outlined plans to expand cultivation to nearly 30 million acres to support higher production and export growth.
The minister assured exporters of full support from his ministry and port authorities, reiterating that the government’s policy focus is shifting from revenue generation to trade facilitation in order to strengthen Pakistan’s export competitiveness.
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