Govt plans to cut container dwell time by 70%

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has announced the constitution of a high-level committee tasked with developing concrete measures to reduce container dwell time at ports by up to 70%.

The decision was made during a meeting held at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters. The huddle was chaired by the federal minister and attended by FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial, alongside senior officials and technical representatives from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, FBR, Customs and Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

The committee will be headed by Ministry of Maritime Affairs Additional Secretary Umer Zafar Sheikh and will comprise representatives from all key stakeholders including the KPT, Pakistan Customs, terminal operators, the FBR and other relevant ministries and departments.

Addressing the participants, the minister stated that the dwell time of containers at port terminals would be reduced by up to 70%, cutting it down from one week to just two days following the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The committee has been tasked with identifying concrete steps to remove procedural hurdles and streamline cargo clearance processes. It will present a comprehensive set of recommendations within 10 days.

Junaid Anwar announced the establishment of a monitoring room at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to oversee the movement and timing of container handling. A dedicated team will manage the entire monitoring process.

"Drones and AI technology will also be deployed to monitor vessel docking operations until the container's exit from the terminal," he added.

The minister emphasised that reducing the dwell time was not merely an administrative change, but a strategic move to enhance port efficiency, lower logistics cost and strengthen Pakistan's standing in regional trade and the logistics landscape.

He pointed out that persistent delays in container release imposed an additional cost on importers and exporters, diminishing the competitiveness of Pakistan's ports. Through this initiative, the government aims to reduce port congestion, facilitate smoother goods movement and ensure that the maritime logistics sector plays a major role in advancing national economic goals.