Pakistan’s maritime economy holds $150 billion potential, says analyst

KARACHI (Staff Report): Pakistan’s maritime economy has the potential to play a vital role in strengthening national economic resilience, reducing trade costs and addressing structural weaknesses in the economy, financial and maritime analyst Ateeq Ur Rehman said.

Speaking at the Maritime, Ports, Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Conference, Rehman estimated Pakistan’s maritime economy at approximately $150 billion, stressing that greater private-sector participation and substantial investment in port infrastructure, shipping, logistics and supply chain management were essential to unlock its potential.

He said Pakistan needed to integrate its maritime sector more effectively into the national economy, particularly at a time when the country was facing economic challenges and seeking new sources of growth.

Rehman noted that considerable work had already been undertaken to improve port infrastructure, cargo-handling capacity, dredging, berths, storage facilities, skills and equipment. However, he stressed that further progress would require stronger collaboration between the government, private sector and multilateral and bilateral investors through local investment and foreign direct investment.

He said the country should also consider developing mini deep-sea ports to diversify port operations, ease congestion and improve cargo-handling efficiency where existing facilities faced capacity constraints.

Emphasising the need for coordination between policymakers and industry stakeholders, Rehman called for a business-friendly maritime ecosystem that could attract investment, improve operational efficiency and strengthen Pakistan’s position in regional and international trade.

He said Pakistan should not merely seek to increase transshipment volumes but also establish itself as a transshipment-friendly country by offering competitive services, efficient port operations and reliable logistics infrastructure.

Highlighting the need for ambitious growth targets, Rehman said Pakistan had previously handled container volumes over the course of a year that it was now handling within a month, reflecting the need to reassess the country’s maritime ambitions.

He proposed setting an initial target of handling 500,000 containers annually, with a gradual expansion towards achieving the same volume on a monthly basis.

Going further, he suggested that Pakistan should consider developing dedicated transshipment facilities or ports, with an initial annual handling capacity of at least 1 to 2 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).

Rehman also drew attention to rising international shipping costs, saying exporters and importers were being forced to absorb substantial additional trade expenses, affecting business competitiveness.

He stressed that Pakistan’s national flag carrier should acquire container and feeder vessels to support transshipment operations in the initial phase.

According to him, strengthening the country’s shipping capacity could create new revenue opportunities, improve competitiveness and provide greater support to the business community.

He said developing an integrated maritime economy through investment, modern infrastructure, efficient shipping services and stronger public-private collaboration could help Pakistan turn its geographical advantage into a significant economic opportunity.