Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has directed that work be accelerated on establishing a one-door facilitation centre in Karachi to provide port-related business services under one roof. The minister issued the directive while reviewing the Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ ongoing projects and initiatives at a weekly review meeting.

The meeting discussed progress on a range of projects and policy initiatives aimed at facilitating maritime trade, strengthening the fisheries sector and developing the country’s blue economy. The minister stressed the need to expedite work on the proposed One-door Cell for business facilitation, saying the initiative would make it easier for port-related businesses to access government services.

He said that, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision for trade facilitation, all services related to port trade should be made available under one roof.

The meeting also reviewed proposals to simplify the ship registration process and the registration of fishing vessels, as well as measures related to the blue economy and tax incentives for fisheries exporters. The minister was briefed on progress toward formulating the National Maritime Policy and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy.

The Shipping and Transshipment Policy was also discussed, along with development projects at Port Qasim, including the Sea-to-Steel Project and the proposed Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the rehabilitation of the Manora Workshop of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and various development projects at Gwadar Port.

The meeting further considered the Maritime Educational Endowment Fund, aimed at supporting the development of maritime education and human resources.

The minister directed the relevant officials to maintain momentum on the projects and ensure timely progress, with particular emphasis on measures that could improve the ease of doing business in the maritime sector.