ISLAMABAD: During a Senate Planning Committee meeting chaired by PPP Senator Quratulain Marri, it was revealed that Pakistan’s port charges are the highest in the region, with Gwadar Port having the most expensive shipping fees.
Officials stated that these charges are imposed by Customs and the Gwadar Port Authority.
Committee members stressed that if Gwadar is to develop, it must be declared a tax-free zone, as high taxes discourage foreign investment.
They warned that without reform, Gwadar’s progress would remain stalled.
Officials also shared that Gwadar could reduce China’s shipping distance by 8,000 nautical miles compared to the current 10,000-mile route via Xinjiang. Despite this strategic advantage, Gwadar has no role in handling the 17 million barrels of oil that pass nearby.
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The committee was informed that while Iran’s Chabahar Port, which began after Gwadar, is now functional, Gwadar remains underdeveloped. In 2009, 70 ships docked at Gwadar, but only 4 arrived in 2024. From 2017 to 2024, virtually no activity took place at the port.
