Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to develop a comprehensive business plan for the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) within two weeks, with the objective of reducing the country’s $4 billion annual expenditure on maritime trade.
During a high-level meeting focused on the operations of PNSC, the prime minister was briefed that the state-run shipping corporation currently manages a fleet of 10 vessels, offering a combined cargo capacity of 724,643 tons.
Highlighting the pressing need to enhance the country’s shipping capacity, the prime minister emphasized that expanding the PNSC fleet—particularly through acquiring additional vessels on lease—is vital for reducing reliance on foreign shipping services.
He stressed that the limited size of the current fleet forces Pakistan to incur substantial annual costs for transporting goods by sea.
The meeting was attended by Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and senior officials from the PNSC. The discussions focused on formulating strategies to strengthen national maritime logistics and reduce dependence on external shipping services.
