ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Chairman of the Prime Minister's Maritime Task Force Iftikhar Ahmad Rao said on Thursday that Pakistan's improved performance has lifted its position in the global maritime sector.
Speaking at a press conference alongside the Secretary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and a member of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), Rao said around 80% of global trade is conducted by sea and Pakistan is located at a strategically important point in the Gulf region.
He said Pakistan serves as an important gateway to Central Asia. The Maritime Task Force was established in August 2024 and held meetings with officials of relevant institutions to identify issues facing the sector before presenting its recommendations to the prime minister in December 2024.
Rao said an implementation committee had also been formed to oversee the task force's recommendations and that it was holding meetings on a regular basis.
He said customs authorities had deployed additional personnel to speed up maritime operations, contributing to improved sectoral performance. As a result, Pakistan's maritime ranking improved by 30%, placing the country 69th in the global rankings.
The Maritime Task Force chairman also said Port Qasim is now among the world's five best-performing ports, while the shipping sector has also recorded significant improvement.
He added that the government had abolished sales tax on the purchase of shipbuilding materials in the latest budget. Customs duty on the shipping sector had already been removed last year, while a new law relating to shipbreaking has also been enacted.