Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has been briefed by officials of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) on recent developments in the fleet.

The PNSC has added two new Aframax tankers to its fleet, increasing the total number of ships from ten to twelve. Chaudhry announced that the target is to expand the fleet to twenty ships by the end of the year.

He highlighted that Aframax tankers will be instrumental in transporting crude oil and petroleum products, emphasizing that expanding the national fleet is a crucial step for enhancing energy security.

Chaudhry pointed out that by reducing dependence on foreign shipping, Pakistan will save valuable foreign exchange. Currently, the country spends $4.6 billion annually on freight paid to foreign shipping companies.

The introduction of the new ships will facilitate the efficient handling of increasing energy imports. He also encouraged the PNSC to expedite its search for new business opportunities, both domestically and internationally.