Pakistan has restored direct shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports, offering relief to exporters facing longer transit times and rising freight costs because of disruptions to international shipping routes.
Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Thursday that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had reinstated its PREMIUM IPAK service following demands from exporters for a dedicated Europe route.
Under the restored service, MSC will make weekly calls at Karachi Gateway Terminal International (KGTI). The service connects Karachi with major European destinations, including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre and London Gateway, via Colombo.
The minister said the restored route would strengthen Pakistan’s maritime connectivity and support its growing role in regional transshipment.
Shipping Route to Support Exporters
Chaudhry said the restoration marked an important development for Pakistan’s export-oriented industries, particularly textiles.
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Textile exporters had recently raised concerns about longer vessel journeys and higher logistics costs. Changes to international shipping routes, including disruptions linked to the Red Sea situation, had affected shipments to European and US markets.
The minister said the additional costs and delays had placed pressure on Pakistani exporters’ competitiveness.
He added that the restored service would give businesses more options for planning shipments and delivering goods to European markets.
However, Chaudhry cautioned that the reinstatement of the service did not resolve the wider challenges facing international shipping.
He said the government would continue working with shipping companies and exporters to address connectivity problems, improve logistics and strengthen Pakistan’s position in global trade.
KPT Seeks Faster Cargo Clearance
Separately, the chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) proposed a series of measures to remove physical and regulatory bottlenecks in cargo handling.
The proposals came during a meeting of the Working Group on Shipping Connectivity and Optimisation at the KPT head office.
The proposed measures include standardised electronic delivery orders available around the clock, risk-based inspections, non-intrusive cargo scanning, joint inspections and common sampling procedures.
These steps aim to make cargo clearance faster and more predictable for businesses.
Terminal operators expressed their readiness to support night inspections. The meeting also asked Pakistan Customs to facilitate round-the-clock operations.
The initiatives are intended to improve port efficiency and reduce delays as Pakistan seeks to strengthen its shipping links and support export growth.
