New tariff incentives have been introduced to stimulate transit and transshipment cargo, in a move aimed at strengthening trade flows and enhancing port competitiveness
By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced sweeping reductions in tariff rates at Gwadar Port, in a move aimed at strengthening the deep-sea facility’s role as a competitive regional logistics and transshipment hub.
In a statement, the minister said the revised policy is designed to significantly increase transit and international transshipment container traffic through Gwadar while attracting global shipping lines and boosting overall port activity. Under the new tariff structure, berthing fees for container vessels and ships carrying transit or transshipment cargo have been reduced by 25%.
Charges on international transshipment container cargo have been cut by 40%, while transit container cargo charges have been reduced by 31%. As part of additional incentives to improve cargo handling efficiency, the port will also offer one month of free storage for general cargo, compared to the standard five-day allowance at other national ports.
The minister said the measures take immediate effect, with further revisions to be reviewed in phases based on operational data, cargo trends, regional competition and broader sustainability considerations. He said the policy is part of a wider strategy to transform Gwadar into a competitive, investor-friendly deep-sea port positioned as a strategic gateway for trade with Central Asia, the Middle East, East Africa and beyond.
Amid rising demand for lower-cost and congestion-free shipping routes, Chaudhry said Gwadar is well placed to capture a larger share of regional trade flows. He added that the revised tariff regime is expected to reduce operational costs for shipping lines, encourage new transshipment and feeder services, and increase cargo throughput.
Gwadar Port Chairman Noorul Haq Baloch said the initiative would help stimulate economic activity, generate employment opportunities and expand Pakistan’s maritime and logistics sectors. He separately said the changes are expected to significantly increase employment opportunities in Balochistan, as improved incentives and reduced fees are likely to attract both domestic and international investors.
In a related development, the maritime affairs minister also announced the berthing of another cargo vessel at Gwadar Port, highlighting what he described as the growing transshipment potential of the facility.
