Pakistan took a significant step toward strengthening its maritime capabilities on Monday with the launch of construction of a 1,100 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) container vessel for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). The project is aimed at enhancing national shipping capacity and reducing reliance on foreign carriers.
The steel-cutting ceremony was held at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW), where Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry formally inaugurated the project. Senior officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, PNSC, and KSEW attended the event, underscoring its national importance.
Addressing the gathering, the minister termed the project a strategic milestone for Pakistan’s maritime industry, stating that it reflected the government’s resolve to revive shipping and shipbuilding in line with broader economic priorities. He emphasized that constructing the vessel locally demonstrated Pakistan’s growing technical capability in shipbuilding and effective utilization of domestic resources.
The minister noted that the addition of the new container ship to the PNSC fleet would help conserve valuable foreign exchange by reducing freight payments to overseas shipping lines. It would also strengthen the national carrier’s ability to support Pakistan’s import and export trade.
Highlighting the sector’s importance, Chaudhry said nearly 95 percent of Pakistan’s trade volume is transported by sea, making a robust maritime industry vital for economic stability and growth. He added that shipping and ship repair remain central pillars of the National Maritime Policy.
The project is also expected to generate employment for skilled and semi-skilled workers while contributing to industrial growth and technology transfer at KSEW. Upon completion, the vessel will enhance PNSC’s operational capacity and competitiveness, supporting Pakistan’s trade logistics amid ongoing global supply chain challenges.
