In a bid to boost Gwadar Port’s operational capacity, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs has outlined plans to increase the number of shipping lines operating to and from the port, and has also announced the launch of a ferry service.

 

Federal Minister for Maritime Af­­fairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar chaired a meeting at the high-profile Ministry of Maritime Affairs attended by key officials from the ministry.

 

According to the federal minister, the ferry service is expected to connect Pakistan with countries from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The initiative is part of the federal government’s plan to elevate Gwadar Port’s position as a “major hub in the Arabian Sea”.

 

The government is aiming “to transform Gwadar into a strategic transhipment and logistics centre,” the federal minister revealed.

 

If accomplished, the increase in the flow of maritime trade through Gwadar Port could greatly benefit Pakistan’s economy. Reports suggest that the time is optimal to route a larger number of naval vessels via the port as well, as the Port is now “fully operational”.

 

In an attempt to integrate Gwadar Port into larger maritime networks, the federal minister reportedly issued directives to all relevant stakeholders to boost commercial activity at Gwadar Port.

 

According to the federal minister, an increase in shipping lines would improve trade relations with the Middle East and landlocked countries in Central Asia. Moreover, Pakistan could witness a large inflow of foreign reserves if Central Asian countries decide to rely on Gwadar Port as their primary trading hub.

 

An increase in the flow of traffic through Gwadar Port is also likely to alleviate pressure on other Pakistani ports, namely Karachi and Qasim ports. This spells great news for Pakistani importers and exporters alike as various ports in Karachi have been witnessing backlogs in recent times. 

 

Apart from adding more shipping lines, the federal government has recently been ramping up efforts to increase the flow of shipping vessels passing through Gwadar Port. In January 2025, Islamabad decided to “revive” the port, which was seemingly processing subpar levels of cargo. 

 

Federal authorities attempted to tackle the issue of low freight traffic through the port by deciding to route 60 percent of all public sector cargoes through Gwadar. However, the port is likely to witness a complete "revival" with the possible increase in shipping lines announced by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.