Electric vehicles for export are seen at a port in Hangzhou, in eastern China’s Zhejiang province on April 2, 2025. (AFP/ file)
- Roll-on, roll-off is a shipping method where wheeled cargo is driven directly onto and off a vessel via built-in ramps
- Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Chaudhry says modern port facilities will further strengthen Pakistan’s trade capacity
Karachi Port has received its first-ever roll-off shipment of 2,000 electric vehicles, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Chaudhry said on Thursday, describing it as a “historic milestone” in the country’s maritime trade sector.
Roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) is a maritime shipping method where wheeled cargo like cars, trucks and heavy machinery is driven directly onto and off a vessel via built-in ramps, making it faster, safer, and generally more cost-effective than container shipping that requires cranes.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to modernize its maritime sector through upgrades in port infrastructure and modern terminal facilities, customs reforms and greater investment in its “blue economy.”
Chaudhry said the arrival of electric vehicles via an RoRo vessel, MV Grande Shanghai, at the Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited was an achievement for the country’s maritime trade sector.
“Karachi Port is moving toward world-class modern shipping services,” he said. “Modern port facilities will further strengthen Pakistan’s trade capacity.”
The development follows the arrival of one of the world’s largest container ships, MSC ERICA, at Karachi Port on July 12, according to port authorities.
The vessel measured 398.5 meters in length and 59 meters in width, with a gross tonnage of 194,308 metric tons and a draft of 12 meters, placing it among the largest container ships currently in operation.
Earlier this month, officials said Karachi Port had climbed 30 places to 69th in global port rankings following measures to improve cargo handling and customs clearance, while Port Qasim ranked among the world’s most improved ports.
Pakistan’s maritime sector handles the vast majority of the country’s international trade, with Karachi Port and Port Qasim serving as its principal gateways for containerized cargo.
Officials say the ability to accommodate ultra-large container ships will help improve shipping efficiency, strengthen Pakistan’s connectivity to global supply chains and support the country’s ambitions to expand its maritime economy.
Reference Link:- https://www.arabnews.com/node/2651244/pakistan