Maritime minister freezes proposed 5% hike in Karachi Port Trust tariffs

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced a freeze on the proposed 5% increase in Karachi Port Trust tariffs for the fiscal year 2026-27, according to a statement.

The decision is expected to provide relief of more than Rs500 million to importers, exporters and consumers by reducing the financial burden on trade.

Chaudhry said the measure was in line with the federal government’s policy of facilitating the business community, promoting trade and exports, and supporting sustainable economic growth.

He said ports were an important part of the country’s trade infrastructure and any increase in port charges directly raised the cost of doing business.

The minister said freezing the proposed tariff increase would help contain logistics costs and improve the competitiveness of Pakistani products in international markets.

He said the decision also reflected the prime minister’s vision to strengthen the blue economy and create a business-friendly environment that encourages investment and trade expansion.

Chaudhry expressed confidence that the tariff freeze would help maintain export competitiveness, reduce operational costs for importers and support higher trade volumes through Pakistan’s ports.