ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal government has announced significant tariff reductions at Gwadar Port to promote international trade activity and strengthen the country’s maritime logistics sector, officials said on Monday.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the new measures aim to attract global transit traffic to Pakistan and boost commercial operations at the strategically located port.
According to an official statement, berthage fees for container vessels have been reduced by 25%, while port charges on international transshipment containers have been cut by up to 40%. Transit container cargo charges have also been reduced by 31%.
The government has also introduced a one-month free storage facility for general cargo at Gwadar Port, offering additional relief to shipping operators.
Chaudhry said the incentives would significantly reduce operational costs for shipping companies and help position Gwadar as a regional logistics hub. He added that the policy shift was already under implementation and would increase cargo handling, economic activity and employment opportunities.
He said Gwadar was being developed as a key regional trade and logistics centre under Pakistan’s broader maritime strategy.
Meanwhile, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Noor-ul-Haq Baloch said the port’s strategic importance had increased further amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to the All Pakistan Shipping Association in Karachi, he said Gwadar offered shorter trade routes to Iran and Central Asia, along with investor-friendly incentives that positioned it as a viable alternative regional trade gateway.
He described the Gabad-Rimdan border route as an effective multimodal corridor for expanding trade with Iran and Central Asia.
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Baloch also said Gwadar Port handled four transshipment vessels in April, reflecting its growing regional importance and increasing commercial activity.
