KARACHI: A Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) oil tanker, MT Karachi, docked at Karachi Port carrying a shipment of crude oil, sources confirmed on Thursday.
The vessel is currently stationed at the outer anchorage and is expected to berth once space becomes available at the oil terminal, according to port officials.
Meanwhile, two other tankers, MT Sargodha and MT Sonas, are actively discharging their crude oil cargo at the terminal. Sources at the Karachi Port Trust said MT Karachi will move to the berth after the ongoing operations are completed.
The development comes amid continued disruptions in global shipping routes linked to tensions in the Middle East.
Earlier this week, a non-Iranian oil tanker successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz with its tracking system active, despite heightened risks in the region.
“The Aframax tanker Karachi, carrying Abu Dhabi’s Das crude, has become the first non-Iranian cargo to transit the chokepoint while broadcasting its AIS signal, suggesting that select shipments may be receiving negotiated safe passage,” Marine Traffic said in a statement.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has announced a comprehensive package of incentives for transshipment traffic to Karachi Port, positioning it as a competitive regional maritime hub.
Speaking at a high-level meeting, the minister described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to increase shipping activity and support environmentally sustainable practices in maritime operations.
The government said on Wednesday that Pakistan’s fuel supply remained stable despite heightened volatility in global oil markets and continued regional tensions, as a cabinet-level monitoring body ordered tighter oversight of stocks, imports and financing.
