The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs in Pakistan, Muhammad Junaid Anwar, has ordered officials to accelerate work on a proposed one-door facilitation center in Karachi aimed at making it easier for port-related businesses to access government services.
Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry issued the directive during a weekly review meeting of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, where officials discussed a range of projects linked to maritime trade, fisheries and the country’s blue economy.
The proposed center is intended to bring port-related government services under one roof, reducing the need for businesses to deal with multiple departments.
The meeting also reviewed proposals for simplifying the ship registration process and registration of fishing vessels, as well as measures relating to the blue economy and tax incentives for fisheries exporters.
Officials briefed the minister on work to formulate a National Maritime Policy and a National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.
The Shipping and Transshipment Policy was also reviewed, alongside development projects at Port Qasim, including the Sea-to-Steel Project and a proposed Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.
Progress on the rehabilitation of the Manora Workshop of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and various development projects at Gwadar Port was also reviewed.
The meeting further reviewed the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund, which is intended to support maritime education and the development of skilled workers for the sector.
Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has directed the relevant officials to maintain momentum on the projects and ensure timely progress, with particular emphasis on measures that could improve the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.
