Ship Agents Urge Tax Authority to Amend Rules to Turn Pakistan into Regional Transshipment Hub

Karachi:** The chairman of **Pakistan Ships Agents Association**, **Muhammad A. Rajpar**, has written a letter to the **Federal Board of Revenue** urging immediate regulatory changes to help transform Pakistan into a regional transshipment hub and capitalize on the current global situation.

In the letter, Rajpar stated that rising tensions in the Middle East are disrupting maritime trade, prompting several countries to search for safer alternative ports for their cargo.

He emphasized that due to its strategic geographic location, **Pakistan** has the potential to become a key transshipment center in the region and could earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange.

Rajpar pointed out that under existing regulations, transshipment cargo cannot be stored at off-dock terminals, while storage capacity at port-operated terminals is also limited. As a result, valuable business opportunities are being lost.

The letter urged the **Federal Board of Revenue** to immediately allow international cargo to be stored at off-dock terminals through a special regulatory order (SRO).

According to the association, such a move would ease congestion at ports, generate significant foreign exchange earnings, and position Pakistan as a major hub for regional trade and shipping activities. ⚓📦