ISLAMABAD: The government earned Rs 107.696 billion from 7,850 foreign ships that arrived at Port Qasim in Karachi and Rs 573.92 million from Gwadar Port during the last five years (2021–25).In a written reply to questions by members during the Question Hour session of the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar said that the type break-up of ships is: container vessels 3,200; oil and chemical tankers 2,100; bulk carriers 2,000; and LNG carriers 550. He said the size break-up is: Handymax/medium range 2,500; Panamax around 3,000; Post-Panamax/Aframax 1,800; and LNG Q-Flex/Q-Max 550.The minister said that the approximate share by country of origin is: Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman) 40 percent; Far East (China, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea) 30 percent; Europe (UK, Netherlands, Germany, Greece) 20 percent; and others (Africa and the Americas) 10 percent.About Gwadar, he said that the total revenue generated from the port during the last five fiscal years is Rs 573.921 million. He said that the revenue was Rs 44.3 million in 2020-21, Rs 66.8 million in 2021-22, Rs 124.44 million in 2022-23, Rs 211.32 million in 2023-24, and Rs 127 million in 2024-25.He said the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) was established under the Gwadar Port Authority Ordinance, 2002, and works as a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Government of Pakistan, and falls under the mandate of the federal government.He said that at present, there is no policy or provision for revenue sharing with the Government of Balochistan from the revenues generated by GPA. He added that there is no legal or contractual framework that entitles the Government of Balochistan to a share in GPA’s revenues.Answering another question, Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal told the House that over 40 percent of children under five are stunted, showing long-term undernutrition and repeated deprivation during pregnancy and early childhood. He said that 17.7 percent of children suffer from wasting, with several districts at emergency levels. He said that 28.9 percent of children are underweight.Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
