Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Friday directed the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to expedite the process of acquiring new vessels to enhance the national shipping fleet.
The PNSC has decided to expand its fleet to 15 ships by the end of this year, with three new oil tankers expected to join by December 2025. According to the minister, the government has already approved the purchase of the three new vessels—MT Karachi, MT Lahore, and MT Quetta—symbolizing Pakistan’s major cities and maritime strength.
Chaudhry said the government has set an ambitious target to increase the PNSC fleet to 30 vessels by 2026 as part of efforts to boost Pakistan’s shipping capacity and reduce reliance on foreign carriers. To achieve this goal, new tenders have been issued for the purchase of 12 additional ships, marking a significant step toward strengthening the country’s maritime trade infrastructure and ensuring greater national control over sea transport operations.