Islamabad: Pakistan is accelerating reforms across its port and maritime sector, with new planning, tariff, as well as digital customs measures aimed at improving trade efficiency.
The Prime Minister’s Maritime Reforms Task Force has completed 85 of 99 reform action points covering ports, shipping, shipbuilding, ship recycling, and fisheries, according to official details. Among the completed measures are a National Ports Master Plan and a uniform port tariff system.
The National Ports Master Plan provides a common framework for future port development, while the uniform tariff system is intended to improve consistency and competitiveness across Pakistan’s ports.
Furthermore, digitalisation has also become a central part of the reforms. The Pakistan Single Window allows traders to submit information along with documents through a single digital platform for import, export and transit related regulatory requirements. Consequently, reliance on paper based procedures has substantially reduced.
Additionally, Faceless Customs Assessment has further changed the way consignments are processed by reducing direct interaction between customs officials and importers. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) said the reforms have helped reduce customs clearance time from 53 hours to 18 hours since the task force was established. The FBR has set a further target of reducing customs dwell time to 12 hours over the next one to two years.
Other measures include improvements in transit trade procedures, expansion of port capacity and new regulations for transhipment and ship bunkering. The government has also reported efforts to improve monitoring of economic zones and address encroachments on Karachi Port land.
The reforms mark a shift towards more coordinated planning and digital processes in the maritime sector of Pakistan. Their longer term impact will depend on continued implementation and whether faster clearance and more consistent port operations translate into sustained gains in trade and competitiveness.
