KARACHI: Pakistan plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70% to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday, which also announced the formation of a committee to present recommendations within ten days.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize its port infrastructure and position Pakistan as a regional trade and transit hub.
Islamabad is working to increase the efficiency of its ports in Karachi and Gwadar as it seeks to expand connectivity with global markets, including plans to launch a ferry service to Gulf countries and encourage landlocked Central Asian states to use Pakistani ports for access to international sea lanes.
The announcement to reduce the dwell time followed a meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry at the Federal Board of Revenue headquarters with senior officials from Pakistan Customs, Karachi Port Trust and other relevant bodies.
“Minister Junaid Chaudhry emphasized that reducing dwell time is not merely an administrative change, but a strategic move to enhance port efficiency, lower logistics costs and strengthen Pakistan’s standing in the regional trade and logistics landscape,” the statement said.
He also announced the formation of the committee and tasked its members with identifying procedural bottlenecks and proposing measures to expedite cargo clearance.
Currently, container dwell time at Pakistani ports averages around a week. The government’s target is to reduce this to just two days, following directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
To support implementation, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs will establish a dedicated monitoring room to oversee real-time container movements.
“Drones and AI technology will also be deployed to monitor vessel docking operations through to the container’s exit from the terminal,” the minister said during the meeting.
He noted that persistent delays in container release impose additional costs on importers and exporters, diminishing Pakistan’s competitiveness in international markets.
