Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has said that reforms and facilitation in the port sector are the government’s foremost priority to strengthen Pakistan’s blue economy.

He made these remarks during a meeting with a six-member delegation of leading terminal operators, led by FAP Terminal CEO Eqan Ali Khan. The minister assured the delegation that the government would take all possible steps to support the stability and growth of their businesses.

The delegation called for simplifying the tax regime to single-digit levels and granting port services formal industry status, similar to the telecommunications sector, to encourage investment and improve the regulatory environment.

Chaudhry emphasized policy continuity and investor confidence as vital for maritime development. He highlighted future projects, such as the establishment of an “Energy City” with bonded storage facilities, and urged operators to form consortia to invest in this initiative and contribute to the development of a multipurpose terminal at Port Qasim. He also noted recent operational improvements at Karachi Port Trust, including the removal of decades-old containers, which have eased congestion and enhanced efficiency.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to maintain close coordination between the ministry and private stakeholders to fully harness the maritime sector’s potential and accelerate blue economy initiatives.