Latest news with #JunaidAnwarChaudhry
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
‘Climate resilience': govt cuts export cargo handling charges by 50% at Karachi Port
KARACHI: Pakistan government announced on Saturday a 50% cut in port handling, vessel, and storage charges for dry bulk exports at the Karachi Port, a step that Maritime Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry believes will reduce the carbon footprint of trade logistics and foster sustainable growth. The move is expected to benefit exporters of dry bulk goods and reduce emissions through faster, less congested port activity. The minister announced the major reduction in port charges 'as part of a broader strategy to decarbonise the maritime sector and improve energy efficiency in port operations', according to a ministry statement. 'By lowering operational costs and streamlining logistics, we are not only boosting trade competitiveness but also contributing to climate resilience,' he was quoted as saying in the statement. Govt plans to establish Rs3bn aquaculture park in Karachi According to details, the newly introduced reforms include a 50% cut in port handling, vessel, and storage charges, while scrapping the previously planned annual 5% hike in these fees. 'This isn't just a financial measure; it's a pivot toward low-impact, future-ready maritime trade,' said Junaid Anwar Chaudhry. 'A more efficient port reduces idle time for vessels, lowers fuel consumption, and supports greener supply chains.' The minister highlighted that the changes were part of a national strategy to modernise port infrastructure, enhance sustainability, and transition towards smart maritime practices. 'The announcement follows recent efforts of the maritime minister to enhance port efficiency, including forming a high-level committee to cut container dwell time by 70% and deploying advanced technologies such as AI and drones for monitoring operations, further underlining the government's proactive stance in modernizing maritime trade logistics,' Maritime ministry said. Pakistan eyes East African market with new sea trade corridors As sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and maritime pollution intensify, the minister stated that climate adaptation was being increasingly integrated into trade logistics as 'part of a broader strategy to establish the country as a sustainable maritime hub in the face of climate change'. A similar 50% reduction was announced for export-oriented cargoes at the Port Qasim few weeks ago.
Arab News
4 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan plans to build $10.5 million aquaculture park to promote seafood exports
KARACHI: Pakistan is planning to build Rs3 billion ($10.5 million) aquaculture park in the southern port city of Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Saturday, amid efforts to strengthen the country's blue economy. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improving livelihoods and creating jobs, while preserving the ocean ecosystem health. Pakistan has been pushing to modernize its port infrastructure and expand its role in regional trade by improving cargo handling, digitalizing port operations and encouraging public-private partnerships. Speaking at a meeting to review progress on blue economy, Chaudhry said this new aquaculture park will be built on 120 acres and directed the Qur'angi Fish Harbor Authority to submit its report within 10 days. 'Pakistani coastal waters are very suitable for aquaculture,' he said in a statement shared by the maritime affairs ministry. 'The project will be built under a public-private partnership and the park will boost seafood exports. Pakistan's fish and fish preparation exports reached $465.4 million in the outgoing fiscal year that ended in June, according to official data. The exports were up 13.4 percent from $410.3 million in the previous year. Authorities are currently trying to enhance the potential of Pakistan's fisheries, logistics and marine services while reducing environmental harm. 'Investment in aquaculture and port infrastructure is essential for national development,' Chaudhry told representatives of Gwadar Port, Qur'angi Fish Harbor, Marine Fisheries and Balochistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry at the meeting. 'The same aquaculture model will be implemented in Balochistan as well.' In May, the Pakistani government announced the creation of a new Maritime Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), saying it would serve as a specialized platform for uniting stakeholders from across the maritime spectrum to pursue greener policies and long-term economic resilience. 'This chamber will not only support investment and innovation in the maritime sector but also prioritize sustainability at ports, promote green technologies and foster carbon reduction strategies,' Chaudhry said at the time.
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan mulls routes as it eyes new ferry service between Gwadar and Gulf region
KARACHI: Pakistan has been mulling routes for a ferry service it plans to launch to connect its southwestern Gwadar port with the Gulf region, the country's maritime affairs ministry said on Friday. The statement came after a meeting presided over by Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry to review matters relating to the proposed ferry service. Officials at the meeting reviewed technical and financial aspects of ferry operations, according to the ministry. Five privately-owned firms submitted their proposals, showing growing interest of the private sector. 'The ferry service will promote regional connectivity and trade,' Chaudhry was quoted as saying by his ministry. 'It is expected to ease movement of passengers and goods from Gulf countries.' Gwadar, situated along the Arabian Sea, lies at the heart of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), under which Beijing has funneled tens of billions of dollars into massive transport, energy and infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Pakistani officials say the geostrategic location of the southwestern Pakistani coastal town in the Balochistan province offers the shortest trade route to the Gulf and landlocked Central Asian states, highlighted its potential as a regional transshipment hub. During the meeting, Chaudhry telephoned Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and discussed provincial cooperation with him, according to the maritime affairs ministry. Bugti assured his full cooperation for the project. 'The ferry service will highlight Gwadar on the international maritime map,' Chaudhry added. The development comes amid Pakistan's efforts to capitalize on its geostrategic location to boost transit trade as it slowly recovers from a macroeconomic crisis under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. The country also plans to cut container dwell time at its seaports by up to 70 percent to improve trade competitiveness and ease congestion, while it last month reduced port charges for exporters by 50 percent at the second largest Port Qasim.
Business Recorder
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Pakistan's ‘first-ever' national consultation on fisheries, aquaculture policy held
Pakistan's first-ever national consultation for inaugural National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025-2035 was held, bringing together key stakeholders from across the country to shape a unified and inclusive national direction. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said this while addressing a workshop on Wednesday organised by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), on shaping the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025–2035, according to a ministry statement. Junaid Anwar Chaudhry noted that despite Pakistan's rich marine and inland water resources, the fisheries and aquaculture sector had long remained underdeveloped and underutilised. He pointed out that the sector currently contributed less than 0.5% to the national gross development product (GDP) and captured limited value from both domestic and export markets. The minister stressed that one of the key priorities of the new policy was fostering federal-provincial harmonisation. He emphasised that the Ministry of Maritime Affairs would continue to lead on critical national issues, including fulfilling international obligations and enhancing seafood exports. The policy also focused on cross-cutting priorities such as climate resilience, environmental protection, child safety, gender inclusion, labour rights, and the adoption of modern technologies, he added. The minister described the policy as a foundational and evolving framework whose success depends on sustained commitment, effective coordination, and active engagement from all stakeholders across the country. He said the policy represented a major milestone for not just the ministry but for all institutions, communities, and stakeholders committed to the future of Pakistan's blue economy. Secretary of Maritime Affairs Syed Zaffar Ali Shah stated that despite Pakistan's long coastline, the fisheries sector had not achieved its potential. The sector remains a vital source of livelihood but faces serious issues like overfishing and poor regulation, according to Shah. He noted that the newly introduced national policy aimed to resolve the challenges through coordinated planning. With better management and value addition, the sector could generate up to $10 billion in value, he envisaged. Florence Rolle, FAO Representative, stressed the need for strong coordination between provincial and federal governments and across sectors. She highlighted that inclusive seminars were conducted nationwide, helping shape the policy. Rolle praised Balochistan's proactive development of its fisheries policy and noted that sustainable practices could attract international climate funding. Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, Animal Husbandry Commissioner from the Ministry of National Food Security emphasised that the final policy must be both ambitious and feasible. He underlined the importance of stakeholder involvement, especially since fisheries are often neglected and highly climate-sensitive. The policy, he added, must reflect the diverse ecological and cultural characteristics of each province. FAO's Senior Policy Specialist, Dr Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal explained the policy's main features including fiscal incentives, ecosystem conservation, women's empowerment, safe working environments, entrepreneurship, job creation for them, and pollution control. Dr Iqbal described the inclusive, step-by-step development process of the national policy, beginning with provincial consultations. He stressed that responsible resource management and effective governance are at the heart of the strategy, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience in the fisheries sector. The workshop featured several panel discussions, including sessions on governance and incentives for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, strategies for development and management of aquaculture in Pakistan, and the implementation framework and cross-cutting themes of the national policy. Younas Anwar from Mahigir Itehad Gwadar, Nasir Rahim Sohrabi of RCDC Gwadar, and Syed Daim Shah, President of the Aquaculture Farmers Association, also spoke at the event, which was attended by representatives from the fisheries industry of Balochistan and Sindh, along with members of academia and policymakers.
Arab News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan launches new fisheries policy, eyeing $10 billion from sector
KARACHI: Pakistan's government launched its 10-year national fisheries and aquaculture policy on Wednesday, with a senior official saying that better management and value addition could help the fisheries sector generate up to $10 billion in value. Pakistan has the potential to become a major player in the global fisheries markets with over 1,050 kilometers of coastline along the Arabian Sea and vast inland water resources. However, its fisheries sector remains largely undertapped due to poor regulations and issues such as overfishing, contributing only 0.5 percent to the country's GDP. Pakistan's Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry launched the 10-year National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy 2025–2035 at a workshop in Islamabad. 'With better management and value addition, the [fisheries] sector could generate up to $10 billion in value,' Maritime Affairs Minister Secretary Zaffar Ali Shah said at the workshop. Shah said despite Pakistan's long coastline, the fisheries sector has failed to achieve its potential, saying that while it remains a vital source of livelihood, it faces serious issues like overfishing and poor regulation. 'He noted that the newly introduced national policy aims to resolve these challenges through coordinated planning,' the maritime affairs ministry said. Chaudhry said the policy focuses on cross-cutting priorities such as climate resilience, environmental protection, child safety, gender inclusion, labor rights and the adoption of modern technologies. The minister said that the policy's success depended on sustained commitment, effective coordination and active engagement from all stakeholders. 'He said this policy represents a major milestone for not just the ministry but for all institutions, communities and stakeholders committed to the future of Pakistan's blue economy,' the maritime affairs ministry said. The workshop, organized by the maritime affairs ministry, also featured several panel discussions, including sessions on governance and incentives for the fisheries and aquaculture sectors, strategies for the development and management of aquaculture in Pakistan, and the implementation framework and cross-cutting themes of the national policy. Pakistan reported an increase of over 20 percent in its seafood exports during the last fiscal year, reiterating its commitment to bolster its blue economy. The South Asian country hopes to achieve sustainable economic growth driven largely by exports.
