ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has proposed the establishment of direct feedershipping lines with Malaysia to substantially reduce freight costs andtransit times while strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation, FederalMinister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced.
The initiative was formally presented during a high-level meeting held onthe sidelines of an international maritime event in the United Kingdombetween Minister Chaudhry and Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Transport,Datuk Hasbi bin Habibollah.
Both sides reviewed existing collaboration in the maritime domain andexplored new avenues for partnership, including seafarer training, digitaltransformation of port operations, and enhanced technical cooperation.
Minister Chaudhry extended an offer for a comprehensive Memorandum ofUnderstanding that would facilitate advanced maritime training programmesand launch a reciprocal cadet-exchange scheme between the two nations.
He emphasised that the proposed exchange programme would significantlycontribute to the professional development of young seafarers and fosterenduring institutional ties in the sector.
The proposal aligns with Pakistan’s broader strategy to expand tradeconnectivity with Southeast Asian markets, particularly as demand grows forits rice, textile, and other agricultural exports.
Read Top Stories
Direct feeder services are expected to shorten current transit periods thatoften involve multiple trans shipments through regional hubs, therebyimproving competitiveness of Pakistani goods in Malaysian and regionalmarkets.
Officials from both countries expressed optimism that strengthened maritimelinks would yield mutual economic benefits and support regional supplychain resilience.
Source: https://moma.gov.pk
