Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has ordered authorities to implement a 30-day plan to ease container congestion at the country’s ports, aiming to capitalise on rising transshipment traffic following disruptions in Gulf shipping routes.

The surge in cargo comes as the war in Iran, which began on February 28, has disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, increased trade and energy costs, and forced vessels to reroute, boosting activity at Pakistan’s ports, particularly in Karachi, according to a report in Arab News.

“Pakistan must seize emerging regional opportunities by adopting a forward-looking framework to sustain and expand our ports’ potential,” the report quoted Chaudhry as saying after chairing a meeting in Islamabad.

The minister asked port authorities to take swift action to clear stuck containers and surplus materials at country’s ports, giving them 30 days to reduce congestion and make operations run more smoothly — without disrupting domestic trade.

The plan includes moving containers from busy on-dock areas to off-dock storage within 30 days, keeping cargo records up to date, and speeding up auctions for abandoned goods, with customs officials helping to keep the process on track.

The minister highlighted improved port performance amid shifting regional dynamics and called for a clear mechanism to handle the additional load on commercial terms.