Overview
- Federal minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry led a high-level meeting after reports that slow sugar unloading was stalling other cargo and export sailings.
- PQA was told to raise sugar discharge to the port’s 4,000–4,500 tons-per-day capacity to clear vessel backlogs and improve turnaround times.
- The government reiterated a directive to route up to 60% of sugar imports through Gwadar, with lower fees offered to incentivize TCP’s use of that port.
- Port Qasim and Karachi Port will berth ships strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, with authorities monitoring performance and applying penalties for unnecessary delays.
- TCP was instructed to tighten vessel planning and maintain continuous coordination with port authorities after private shippers reported heavy demurrage tied to slow offloading, with enforcement and implementation now pending.