Pakistan restores direct shipping service to European ports

Pakistan has restored direct weekly shipping connectivity between Karachi and major European ports to support the country’s export sector. Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced that Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has reinstated its PREMIUM IPAK service, which provides weekly calls at the Karachi Gateway Terminal International.

The service connects Karachi to several key European destinations, including Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Le Havre, and London Gateway, via Colombo. This restoration aims to alleviate challenges faced by exporters, particularly in the textile industry, who have dealt with increased transit times and higher freight costs due to disruptions in international shipping routes, such as those in the Red Sea.

By reducing reliance on transshipment through intermediate ports, the move is expected to improve delivery schedules and competitiveness for Pakistani goods. The European Union remains a critical market for Pakistan, accounting for approximately 29 percent of the country’s total exports, with textiles and clothing making up roughly three-quarters of those shipments.