KARACHI – Chairman Gwadar Port Authority, Noorul Haq Baloch, concluded a series of high-level consultations in Karachi, focusing on the operational activation of Gwadar Port, transshipment services, and the integration of Central Asian trade routes via Iran.
Stakeholder Engagement at PIFFA Headquarters
During a visit to the Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA) head office, Chairman Baloch met with a wide array of logistics industry leaders and shipping sector stakeholders.
Key Attendees: The meeting included PIFFA cabinet members Shiraz Qureshi, Bilal-ur-Rehman, and Babar Dadabhoy, alongside former Gwadar Chamber President Faisal Dashti and senior Gwadar Port officials.
The Shift to Containerization and Feeder Services
The discussions highlighted that 90% to 95% of global trade is now container-based. Stakeholders emphasized that for Gwadar to become a global competitor, the government must:
Activate Modern Terminals: Implement advanced container terminals and reliable feeder services.
Infrastructure Integration: Connect Gwadar’s international status with an integrated transport system to streamline regional trade.
Transit Trade: Prioritize the transit route to Central Asian States through Iran to unlock landlocked markets.
Addressing Security and Revenue Realities
Former President of Gwadar Chamber, Faisal Dashti, addressed security concerns, stating they have been "unnecessarily exaggerated." He noted that:
Peaceful Logistics: Hundreds of LPG tankers and petroleum vehicles transit daily from Gwadar without incident.
Revenue Milestone: The Gwadar border generated Rs54.5 billion in revenue for the Government of Pakistan last year, serving as concrete evidence of the region’s thriving trade activity.