Direct shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports has been restored, providing relief to Pakistani exporters facing higher freight costs and longer transit times due to disruptions in international shipping routes.
Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has reinstated its PREMIUM IPAK service in response to exporters’ demand for a dedicated route to Europe.
Under the restored service, MSC will make weekly calls at Karachi Gateway Terminal International (KGTI), connecting Karachi with major European destinations, including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre, and London Gateway via Colombo.
The minister said the restoration would improve shipping options for export-oriented industries, particularly textiles, which have faced rising logistics costs and delivery delays amid disruptions affecting routes through the Red Sea.
He added that longer shipping journeys had increased transportation expenses for shipments to European and US markets, affecting the competitiveness of Pakistani exporters. The restored service is expected to provide greater flexibility in planning and transporting cargo.
Meanwhile, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) officials have proposed measures to speed up cargo clearance, including standardised electronic delivery orders, risk-based inspections, non-intrusive scanning, joint inspections, and common sampling.
The proposals were discussed at a meeting of the Working Group on Shipping Connectivity and Optimisation at the KPT head office. Terminal operators expressed readiness to conduct inspections at night, while Pakistan Customs was asked to facilitate round-the-clock operations.
Officials said the measures aim to remove physical and regulatory bottlenecks, improve cargo handling, and make shipping and clearance processes faster and more predictable. However, the minister cautioned that the restored service does not resolve the wider disruptions affecting international shipping routes.
