Pakistan has launched a new feeder shipping service connecting Karachi Port with Fujairah and Khorfakkan in the United Arab Emirates, aiming to improve Pakistani traders’ access to global shipping networks.
Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the service will be operated by Karachi Gateway Terminal (Private) Limited (KGTL), a key partner of Karachi Port Trust. The dedicated feeder route links Karachi with the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan.
He said the regular shipping service has already started and described it as an important step toward strengthening trans-shipment operations. The first feeder ship arrived at Karachi Gateway Terminal on March 11.
According to the minister, the new route connects Karachi with two major regional trans-shipment hubs, allowing Pakistani importers and exporters to access global container shipping networks more reliably.
The service will operate through KGTL, which functions as part of AD Ports Group’s international operating arm, Noatum Ports. Officials said the feeder link will help maintain supply chain continuity and ensure Pakistan’s trade remains connected to international markets.
The Port of Fujairah is located in the emirate of Fujairah, while Khorfakkan is a coastal city and an eastern exclave of the emirate of Sharjah, situated along the Gulf of Oman.
Cargo transported through these ports will benefit from strong connections to regional and global shipping routes supported by the UAE’s advanced logistics infrastructure. Containers can also be moved efficiently through integrated road and rail networks across the UAE.
Chaudhry said the new service will strengthen Pakistan’s supply chains and improve trade connectivity.
Khurram Aziz, CEO of KGTL, said the feeder service reflects the terminal’s commitment to improving Pakistan’s maritime links and supporting the country’s trading community.
He added that direct connections with major UAE trans-shipment hubs will provide importers and exporters with dependable access to global shipping routes while enhancing Karachi Gateway Terminal’s role in international trade.
Karachi Port Trust Chairman Shahid Ahmed said the new service will improve Karachi Port’s connectivity with regional hubs and support Pakistan’s growing trade needs.
The minister added that Pakistan’s economy depends heavily on maritime trade, and stronger connections with regional trans-shipment hubs will provide greater stability for exporters, importers, and supply chains.
