One-window port service on the cards

Minister says maritime facilitation centre could cut delays, reduce costs, streamline trade

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has proposed establishing a business facilitation centre to bring port-related services for exporters and importers under one roof, in a bid to cut delays and streamline trade procedures, a statement said on Saturday.

The federal minister made the proposal while chairing a meeting to review progress on port-related projects.

The Maritime Business Facilitation Centre would bring representatives of relevant organisations together at a single location, allowing businesses to access multiple port services without visiting different offices. A dedicated focal person from each organisation would assist businesses, while an integrated system linked to respective main offices would allow applications and cases to be processed and tracked.

The initiative could reduce costs related to trucking, containers, storage, demurrage, vessel delays and administrative procedures, benefiting all enterprises, particularly first-time users of port services.

The minister also said standardising procedures could improve fee collection and reduce leakages, while higher trade volumes could generate additional revenue from port services, cargo handling and customs-related activity. The proposed centre is intended to improve coordination among maritime-sector organisations, reduce procedural bottlenecks and make port services more accessible to businesses engaged in international trade.