Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has ordered officials to accelerate work on a one-door facilitation centre in Karachi. The proposed centre would bring port-related business services under one roof, making government procedures easier for businesses.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, October 3, the minister gave the directive during the ministry’s weekly review meeting. Officials reviewed projects covering maritime trade, fisheries, port infrastructure and Pakistan’s blue economy.
Chaudhry linked the proposed centre to the prime minister’s trade facilitation agenda. He said businesses should have access to all port-trade services at a single location.
The statement did not announce an opening date, project cost or a detailed list of services for the proposed centre.
Ship registration and fisheries reforms
The meeting examined proposals to simplify ship registration and the registration of fishing vessels. Participants also discussed blue economy measures and tax incentives for fisheries exporters.
Officials briefed Chaudhry on preparations for the National Maritime Policy and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy. The Shipping and Transhipment Policy also came under discussion.
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The statement described these measures as proposals and policy work under review. It did not specify new tax rates, eligibility conditions or implementation dates for fisheries incentives.
Alongside these administrative reforms, the minister reviewed major industrial and infrastructure projects at Port Qasim.
Sea-to-Steel project at Port Qasim
The agenda included the Sea-to-Steel Project and the proposed Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex, which links maritime infrastructure with industrial production.
An earlier government briefing in February outlined plans for port upgrades, shipbuilding, ship recycling facilities and an integrated steel mill. The proposal also includes restoring and upgrading the Iron Ore and Coal Berth jetty.
The government envisages using scrap from ship recycling to support domestic steel production and reduce reliance on imported raw materials.
At that February meeting, Chaudhry stressed that authorities would assess the project before making a decision.
“Once submitted, the proposal will undergo thorough review before any decision,” he said. The government also identified jobs, value addition and sustainability as conditions for approval.
Karachi, Gwadar projects also reviewed
Saturday’s meeting also reviewed rehabilitation work at the Karachi Port Trust’s Manora Workshop and development projects at Gwadar Port.
Participants considered the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund, which aims to support maritime education and develop skilled human resources for the sector.
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The proposed facilitation centre follows other efforts to simplify maritime business procedures. In January, the ministry reported integrating Pakistan Single Window with the Port Community System to streamline trade processes. It also reported completing its rollout of an electronic office system as part of a shift towards paperless administration.
Chaudhry instructed officials to maintain momentum across the projects and ensure timely progress. He placed particular emphasis on measures that would improve the ease of doing business in Pakistan’s maritime sector.
