Islamabad: The Federal Cabinet has directed that 60% of public sector imports, including essential commodities like wheat, fertilizer, and sugar, be routed through Gwadar Port. This directive builds on previous decisions by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to boost the utilization of the port.

According to Zameen.Com, the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, formed a committee to oversee the implementation of this policy. The committee will also evaluate procurement plans, consider additional goods for import, and review infrastructure needs for road and rail connectivity to ensure efficient transport from the port. Efforts to enhance Gwadar’s competitiveness are ongoing, including negotiations with China Overseas Port Holding Company Limited (COPHCL) to further reduce port charges, which are already 50% lower than those at Karachi Port.

Public sector entities have been instructed to align their procurement strategies with this new import policy, ensuring that 60% of their imports are processed through Gwadar.