Pakistan and China plan to establish Karachi Port and Shanghai Port as “sister ports,” fostering cooperation in logistics, trade, information exchange, investment, and environmental protection.
Simultaneously, efforts continue to make Gwadar Port fully operational by shifting a larger portion of cargo traffic to this deep-sea facility.
The sister-port agreement between Karachi and Shanghai aims to further enhance trade ties between the two nations. Recently, the Maritime Affairs Division informed the cabinet that it expected approval to sign this agreement soon.
According to sources, the cabinet received a draft agreement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the sister-port relationship, which includes provisions for logistics collaboration, trade, and environmental cooperation. The agreement has been supported by relevant ministries and cleared by the Law and Justice Division.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared the finalized draft for cabinet approval, which was subsequently granted, allowing for the formalization of the Karachi-Shanghai sister-port relationship.
Private sector Involvement
The cabinet also approved private sector involvement in imports and exports through Gwadar Port to strengthen its role as a trade hub.
In a previous meeting, the cabinet resolved to move 60% of public-sector imports and exports from Karachi to Gwadar Port, aligning with a proposal to route half of public-sector imports through Gwadar.
This includes managing 60% of essential public sector imports – such as wheat, fertilizer, and sugar – via Gwadar, with other imports under consideration for the shift.
The cabinet formed a committee, comprising key officials from commerce, maritime affairs, and infrastructure agencies, to oversee this transition, ensuring public-sector imports of key commodities are processed through Gwadar and exploring other suitable imports and exports.
The committee will also assess infrastructure needs for Gwadar Port, exploring necessary upgrades, new links, and potential private sector trade incentives.
Finally, security along Gwadar’s transport routes will be reviewed to ensure safe passage of goods.
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