Islamabad, Pakistan: Pakistan has announced major tariff reductions at Gwadar Port in a bid to boost regional and global transit and shipping activity, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs said on Monday.
Berthing fees for container vessels and ships carrying transit or transshipment cargo have been reduced by 25 percent, while port charges on international transshipment container cargo have been cut by 40 percent, the ministry said in a statement.
Charges on transit container cargo have also been reduced by 31 percent under the revised tariff structure, which became effective immediately, the ministry said.
The ministry added that one month of free storage for general cargo has also been introduced as an incentive, compared to the five days typically offered at other national ports.
The move is aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of Gwadar Port and increasing regional and international shipping traffic through the deep-sea facility, the statement quoted the Minister of Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry as saying.
The ministry said the port offers lower operational costs, a congestion-free deep-sea environment, and strategic connectivity to Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Middle East.
