Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said the modern and affordable seaport could boost the country’s foreign exchange reserves when he arrived in Karachi on a day-long visit to review port operations.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister, during his visit to Kazakhstan, the Prime Minister said that the leaders of the Central Asian countries (CAS) expressed “deep interest” in using Pakistani ports for trade, stressing our country’s “significant importance in the region”. “.
“Further improvements to modern infrastructure and access to the port can earn Pakistan billions of dollars in foreign exchange,” he said, adding that the port in Karachi will increase exports from the value sector.
“Steps should be taken to reduce customs clearance time by installing modern facilities and equipment at Port Qasim and Karachi Port,” he said.
The prime minister also emphasized on “uninterrupted delivery of goods” from the Karachi port and thus said that the Lyari Expressway should be “opened for freight traffic 24 hours a day”.
“A comprehensive action plan for regularization of shipping laws should be prepared and presented soon,” he said, adding that the prime minister had ordered to reduce and fix tolls for LNG vessels at Qasim port in line with the current rates. international level.
The statement further said that the prime minister directed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to “develop and present a comprehensive plan to reduce costs and streamline operations”.
“The government’s priorities include domestic private sector development, ease of doing business and investor friendliness,” the PMO wrote.
The visit comes after Prime Minister Shehbaz urged Tajikistan to “use the potential of Pakistan’s seaports” for transit trade during a two-day official visit to the Central Asian country this week.
“The prime minister informed the president of Tajikistan about the functioning of Gwadar seaport and gave Tajikistan an opportunity to use Pakistan’s seaport facilities,” he said.
“Pakistan’s seaports offer the most efficient, shortest and economic routes for Central Asian countries to markets in Tajikistan, including the Middle East and other countries,” he said.
During his first visit to Karachi in April since assuming office earlier this year, the prime minister’s decision was met with fears among industry leaders that business is not viable under current conditions, especially high energy costs and government policies. .
Asked tough questions in an hour-long meeting at CM House, Karachi’s business community praised the prime minister’s “compassion” but asked him to ensure political stability to “turn around” the economy.
He called the meeting an effort to “listen to great business minds, take what they say and put it into practice” for a comprehensive economic development map.
