Maritime Business Facilitation Centre proposed to streamline port services

September 07, 2026 (MLN): The federal government has proposed setting up a Maritime Business Facilitation Centre to bring port-related services for exporters and importers under one roof, aimed at cutting delays and streamlining trade procedures.

The proposal was made by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry while chairing a meeting to review progress on port-related projects, said a press release issued.

According to the minister, the proposed centre would bring representatives of relevant organisations together at a single location, allowing businesses to access multiple port services without having to visit separate offices.

A dedicated focal person from each organisation would assist businesses, while an integrated system linked to the respective main offices would enable applications and cases to be processed and tracked.

The initiative could help reduce costs related to trucking, containers, storage, demurrage, vessel delays and administrative procedures, benefiting all enterprises, exporters, importers and particularly first-time users of port services, the minister said.

He further noted that standardising procedures could improve fee collection and reduce leakages, while 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.

Junaid AnwarChaudhry has called a meeting of government departments and maritime-sector stakeholders to seek their input on the centre's structure and operations.

The meeting is expected to include officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Karachi Port, Port Qasim, Gwadar Port, the Marine Fisheries Department and Korangi Fish Harbour, along with representatives of banks, shipping lines, clearing and forwarding agents, fisheries associations and other private-sector stakeholders.

The minister has directed officials to consult all relevant stakeholders and incorporate their recommendations into the proposal to ensure the facility addresses the operational needs of exporters and importers.

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