Pakistan govt receives first-ever roll-off shipment of 2,000 electric vehicles in Karachi

• PTI

• Published On Jul 18, 2026 at 02:32 PM IST

Pakistan’s Karachi Port has received its first-ever roll-off shipment of 2,000 electric vehicles, as part of the country’s policy to upgrade and modernise its maritime sector

Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Chaudhry on Thursday said 2,000 electric vehicles had rolled out at the port, which he said was a big step forward for Pakistan’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 minister said the roll-out system for vehicles was part of the government’s policy to upgrade its port infrastructure and modern terminal facilities, and customs reforms to encourage greater investment in its “blue economy”.

The Pakistan government aims to turn the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz into a lasting commercial opportunity, with Karachi Port Trust (KPT) targeting a 20 per cent increase in container traffic over two years by attracting transshipment cargo that would otherwise move through Gulf ports.

The strategy reflects Pakistan’s broader push to position itself as a regional logistics hub by persuading shipping lines to continue using Karachi even after regional tensions ease.

Chaudhry said the vehicles roll-out at the Karachi Port via a RoRo vessel, MV Grande Shanghai, was a milestone for the country’s maritime trade sector.

He said efforts are being made to provide modern port facilities to increase 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.

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.