ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Direct shipping connectivity bet\u00ad\u00adween Karachi and major European ports has been restored, providing relief to exporters facing longer transit times and incre\u00adased freight costs due to disruptions on international shipping routes, Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement, the minister noted that the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) had \u201creinstated its PREMIUM IPAK service\u201d in response to exporters\u2019 demand for a dedicated and direct Europe service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under the restored service, MSC will make wee\u00adkly calls at Karachi Gate\u00adway Terminal Inter\u00adnat\u00adional (KGTI), connecting the port city to key Euro\u00adpean destinations, incl\u00adu\u00adding Felixstowe, Rott\u00ader\u00addam, Hamburg, Brem\u00aderhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre and London Gateway via Colombo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPreviously we had no tra\u00adnsshipment service from Karachi Port. However, now we have a full-swing service as Pakistan has emerged as the transshipment hub of the region,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that the restoration of a dedicated Europe service was an important development for the country\u2019s export-oriented industries, particularly the textile sector, which had been facing increased transit times and logistics costs because of disruptions to international shipping routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister referred to his meeting with textile exporters who had recently informed him about the difficulties caused by changes in shipping routes, particularly those linked to the situation in the Red Sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExporters had earlier expressed concern that longer vessel journeys were increasing transportation costs and delivery times for shipments to European and US markets. These additional costs and delays have affected the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe restored service will improve connectivity with major European ports and provide exporters with greater options for planning and moving their shipments,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister, however, noted that the reinstatement of the service should not be viewed as a resolution of the wider challenges affecting international shipping routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDisruptions to established shipping routes continue to have implications for global trade. We will continue working with the shipping industry and exporters to address connectivity and logistics issues and to strengthen Pakistan\u2019s position in international trade,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Risk-based inspections<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In another development, the KPT chairman proposed standardised 24\/7 electronic delivery orders, risk-based inspections, non-intrusive scanning, joint inspections and common sampling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was chairing a meeting of the Working Group on Shipping Connectivity and Optimisation at the KPT head office, focusing on removing physical and regulatory bottlenecks and making cargo clearance faster and more predictable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terminal operators exp\u00adressed readiness for night inspections, while Pakis\u00adtan Customs was reques\u00adted to facilitate round-the-clock operations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD(National Times)- Direct shipping connectivity bet\u00ad\u00adween Karachi and major European ports has been restored, providing relief to exporters facing longer transit times and incre\u00adased freight costs due to disruptions on international shipping routes, Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Thursday. In a statement, the minister noted that the Mediterranean Shipping Company […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":134540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-134539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n