American representatives assess potential business opportunities at Pakistan's seaports

The United States delegation recently held a briefing with Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, where they expressed interest in investment opportunities across three key ports: Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar.

The US side acknowledged the strategic significance of Pakistan's maritime sector for trade and economic growth. Notably, Karachi Port, which handles 54 percent of Pakistan's trade, operates three private container terminals, one private bulk terminal, three liquid cargo berths, and 13 dry cargo berths. In a remarkable feat, Karachi Port recently handled Pakistan's largest vessel, a 400-meter long vessel.

Karachi Port's importance was further underscored by its annual capacity of 125 million tons and its recent improvement in the global ranking, moving up to 61st among 405 container ports.

The US delegation also showed interest in the development of LNG terminals and bulk cargo handling at Karachi Port.

Moving north to Port Qasim, ongoing projects include dredging of navigation channels, dualization of a 26-kilometer access road, development of effluent treatment plants, and an alternate route for cargo movement. The tourism potential of Gwadar Port was highlighted during the briefing, along with discussions about Gwadar's special economic zones and infrastructure projects.

In a significant development, a MoU worth $500 million was signed between Pakistan and the US to boost cooperation in critical minerals. This agreement was not mentioned in the initial briefing but is expected to further strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

The meeting concluded on Tuesday, with the US delegation gaining a comprehensive understanding of Pakistan's port infrastructure and investment opportunities. The dialogue marks a promising step towards enhanced cooperation and mutual growth in the maritime sector.

American representatives assess potential business opportunities at Pakistan's seaports