For the first time, Pakistan has decided to purchase four new ships from abroad, aiming to boost its shipping capabilities.
Chairman of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), Sultan Chawla, announced that a PNSC team will travel to China this week to finalise the order.
Chawla revealed that the ships will be purchased from China, with a significant portion of the payment made in Pakistani rupees. The first ship is expected to be delivered in about a year, while the remaining three will arrive later. These new additions are projected to increase PNSC’s cargo transport capacity by 40%.
Meanwhile, PNSC has invited bids to sell two older ships for approximately Rs8 billion with the sales process expected to conclude by March.
This marks Pakistan’s first large-scale fleet upgrade in decades, with the last major procurement being new planes for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) 20 years ago. PNSC, a national institution, currently operates a diverse fleet, including double-hull Aframax tankers, LR-1 product tankers, Panamax, Supramax, and Handymax bulk carriers. Its vessels have a combined cargo capacity of 938,876 tonnes, transporting goods globally across various trade routes.
The new ships will modernise PNSC’s fleet and enhance its ability to carry dry bulk cargo, steel products, fertilisers, minerals, construction materials, and more, strengthening Pakistan’s presence in international shipping.
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