Karachi Port has received its first-ever roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipment of 2,000 electric vehicles, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Chaudhry said Thursday, calling it a historic milestone for Pakistan’s maritime trade sector.
Roll-on/roll-off, also known as RoRo, is a shipping method in which wheeled vehicles, such as cars, trucks and heavy machinery, are driven directly onto and off a ship using built-in ramps. This method is faster, safer and generally more cost-effective than container shipping, which requires cranes.
The development comes as Pakistan continues its efforts to modernize its maritime sector by upgrading port infrastructure, improving terminal facilities, introducing customs reforms and increasing investment in the country’s blue economy.
Chaudhry said the arrival of the electric vehicles aboard the RoRo vessel MV Grande Shanghai at Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Ltd. marks an important achievement for Pakistan’s maritime trade sector.
“Karachi Port is moving toward world-class shipping services,” he said. “Modern port facilities will further strengthen Pakistan’s trade capacity.”
The latest 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 is 398.5 meters long and 59 meters wide, with a gross tonnage of 194,308 metric tons and a draft of 12 meters, making it one of the largest container ships currently in operation.
Earlier this month, officials said Karachi Port moved up 30 places to 69th in global port rankings after improvements in cargo handling and customs clearance. Port Qasim was also ranked among the world’s most improved ports.
Pakistan’s maritime sector handles most of the country’s international trade, with Karachi Port and Port Qasim serving as the country’s main gateways for containerized cargo.
Officials said the ability to accommodate ultra-large container ships will improve shipping efficiency, strengthen Pakistan’s connectivity to global supply chains and support the country’s plans to expand its maritime economy.
