* Unified Transshipment Incentive Package at Karachi and Port Qasim intoduced*

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 5: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Wednesday announced a unified transshipment incentive package aimed at reducing cargo handling costs, attracting regional shipping traffic and enhancing the competitiveness of Karachi Port and Port Qasim.

The package, introduced jointly by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Port Qasim Authority (PQA) and their respective container terminal operators, offers significant concessions on wet charges, wharfage, storage fees and terminal handling charges for containerized, bulk and break-bulk transshipment cargo.

The minister said the new framework introduces a performance-based concession on port wet charges for vessels carrying transshipment cargo. Ships carrying 5 to 10 percent transshipment cargo will receive a 20 percent concession, rising to 30 percent for 11 to 25 percent, 50 percent for 26 to 50 percent, 70 percent for vessels carrying 50 to 90 percent transshipment cargo, and 80 percent for vessels carrying 90 to 100 percent transshipment cargo, subject to the prescribed minimum container volumes.

Under the package, Karachi Port Trust will also provide wharfage concessions ranging from 20 to 80 percent, along with 14 days of free storage at terminals and 30 days of free storage at the TPX cargo area under the responsibility of shipping agents. Port Qasim Authority will offer a 100 percent wharfage concession, seven days of free terminal storage, and an extension of up to 21 days for cargo movement under agent responsibility.

Pakistan’s four major container terminals — Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPTL), Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL), and Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) — have also announced reductions in Terminal Handling Charges (THC). Shipping lines will receive concessions ranging from 10 to 25 percent, depending on the proportion of transshipment cargo in their manifests, for both 20-foot and 40-foot containers.

Junaid Chaudhry said the unified framework replaces all previous transshipment concession notifications and statutory regulatory orders (SROs), establishing a single, transparent and performance-based incentive regime for both Karachi Port and Port Qasim.

KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (R) Shahid Ahmed said the initiative is expected to reduce transshipment costs, attract additional mainline shipping services, improve vessel turnaround times and increase regional cargo volumes through Pakistan’s ports.