KARACHI: Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has said that for the first time, licences are being issued within seven days for the long-pending ferry services.

Addressing the members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) on Wednesday, he said Iran and Yemen have shown interest in launching ferry services from Pakistan.

According to a KATI press release, the minister said that strengthening the blue economy is a top priority of the ministry, and effective steps are being taken to revive the fisheries sector.

The minister said that KATI members could jointly form consortia to establish modern fish processing plants, adding that Pakistan currently has confirmed export orders of 25,000 tonnes of tuna fish for this year.

He called upon local industrialists and investors to actively partner with the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in launching development-oriented projects, particularly in the fisheries and blue economy sectors.

The minister disclosed that 180 acres of KPT land have been successfully cleared of encroachments, creating significant opportunities for new development projects, industrial units, and processing plants. He said the reclaimed land can now be utilised for value-added initiatives that support exports, employment generation, and economic growth.

Indiscriminate action was taken against encroachments on KPT land, and the focus has now shifted toward development and investment-led growth, Junaid Anwar said.

The federal minister emphasised that while the ministry can initiate projects on a self-help basis, the government wants the business community to take the lead in capitalising on these opportunities.

“If the government earns ten rupees from a project, the business community can earn eighty rupees from the same initiative,” he remarked, underscoring the importance of private sector participation.

He assured KATI members that the doors of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs remain open to the business community and that any viable proposals would receive full cooperation.

He further stated that if KATI or its members present better or alternative project proposals, the ministry would extend complete support. Highlighting the importance of the blue economy, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said he would personally pursue initiatives proposed by the business community, rather than delegating them solely to the maritime secretary or the KPT chairman.

Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput pointed out that Pakistani seafood faces restrictions in certain international markets due to compliance issues. He said that if the government and stakeholders work together to remove these barriers, the fisheries sector alone could generate over one billion dollars in trade.

He further noted that Pakistan’s maritime zones contain oil and gas reserves that could help meet the country’s energy needs. He urged the government to develop exploration projects to discover and utilise these resources for economic benefit.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026