Pakistan has announced waivers of 25% to 50% on storage charges at Karachi Port Trust terminals for export containers stranded after disruptions in Gulf-bound shipments, in a move aimed at easing financial pressure on exporters and clearing cargo backlogs.

Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the relief on Sunday after consultations with terminal operators over delays in cargo movement.

The waivers were arranged under an initiative led by Karachi Port Trust Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed on the minister’s instructions. Under the plan, Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited will provide a 50% waiver for the period from March 1 to March 20, 2026, Karachi International Container Terminal will offer a 50% waiver from March 1 to March 10, while South Asia Pakistan Terminals will grant a 25% waiver from March 11 to March 31.

The minister said the relief would apply to export containers that remained stuck at terminal yards and could not be loaded because of operational disruptions.

Chaudhry said the measure was intended to reduce costs for exporters, help clear pending consignments and improve cargo clearance efficiency. He described it as part of efforts to support the export sector, maintain trade continuity and ease logistical bottlenecks.

He added that maritime institutions were being encouraged to adopt a more facilitative and trade-friendly approach so that operational delays do not impose avoidable costs on businesses.

The minister also stressed the need for better coordination among ports and terminal operators to improve logistics and service delivery, saying efficient port operations were essential for economic stability, export growth and investor confidence.