Key Takeaways
- Direct shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports has been reinstated.
- The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has resumed its Premium IPAK service.
- This development is expected to reduce transit times and logistics costs for exporters.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Thursday that direct shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports has been restored, providing relief to exporters facing longer transit times and increased freight costs.
In a statement, the minister noted that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had reinstated its Premium IPAK service in response to exporters' demand for a dedicated and direct European service.
Under the restored service, MSC will make weekly calls at Karachi Gateway Terminal International (KGTI), connecting the port city to key European destinations, including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremmerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre, and London Gateway via Colombo.
Previously, there was no transshipment service from Karachi Port, but now Pakistan has emerged as the transshipment hub of the region, the minister said.
The restoration of a dedicated Europe service is an important development for the country's export-oriented industries, particularly the textile sector, which has been facing increased transit times and logistics costs due to disruptions to international shipping routes.
Textile exporters had recently informed the minister about the difficulties caused by changes in shipping routes, particularly those linked to the situation in the Red Sea, stating that longer vessel journeys were increasing transportation costs and delivery times for shipments to European and US markets.
These additional costs and delays have affected the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters, the minister added.
The minister stressed that the government is taking up concerns of the export sector with shipping lines and other relevant stakeholders to improve maritime connectivity and facilitate international trade.
Reliable and predictable shipping connectivity is essential for Pakistan's exporters, he said.
The restoration of a dedicated European service is an important development for our export-oriented industries, particularly the textile sector, which has been facing increased transit times and logistics costs because of disruptions to international shipping routes.
Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs
