In a significant achievement, the Reform Implementation Committee has completed 85 of the 99 action points under the Prime Minister’s maritime reform agenda in a year and a half.
The committee, established in December 2024, was made up of experts from the Ministry of Defence, the maritime and logistics sectors, including the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), as well as representatives from other relevant institutions.
The prime minister’s task force had put forward 99 recommendations aimed at reforming the country’s maritime sector.
The committee launched reforms covering port master planning, shipping, shipbuilding, ship recycling and fisheries. Of the remaining 14 action points, 11 are in the final stages of implementation, while work on the remaining three continues under a long-term strategy.
According to a statement, the completed reforms include the preparation of a national ports master plan, the implementation of a uniform port tariff and measures to facilitate transit trade. Other initiatives include expanding port capacity, introducing modern economic zone monitoring system and removing land encroachments from Karachi port.
The reforms also include the introduction of customs rules for transshipment and bunkering, along with measures to promote local shipbuilding and ship repair infrastructure.
In the fishing sector, a five-year provincial development plan was finalized, while ship recycling resumed after an eight-year hiatus.
As part of efforts to strengthen national maritime capabilities, the government has also established the National Dredging and Marine Services, marking a significant step towards achieving self-sufficiency in port dredging.
