RIYADH: The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has added a new shipping service, AP Line’s Al Pakistan Gulf, to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, aimed at enhancing the Kingdom’s maritime connectivity and supporting national trade operations.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the measure would enhance the Kingdom’s global maritime connectivity and boost national exports and imports.
The launch of the new shipping service is part of Mawani’s ongoing efforts to improve Saudi Arabia’s ranking in the maritime connectivity index.
This initiative supports the efficient movement of national exports and imports and aligns with the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics hub linking three continents.
The new shipping service connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with the ports of Karachi in Pakistan and Jebel Ali in the UAE, with a capacity of 2,903 standard containers.
Last month, Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC) launched Pakistan’s first containerised flag carrier shipping service for Gulf countries.
The service initially operates with two vessels and plans to expand gradually to meet future trade demands.
The cargo ships, with a 1,120 TEU capacity, operate on a 10-day round-trip schedule, ensuring the uninterrupted movement of goods between Karachi, Jabal-e-Ali (Dubai) and Dammam (Saudi Arabia).
It is the first-ever shipping service operated by a Pakistani entity for direct trade between Karachi and the Gulf region.
Additionally, it offers the convenience of slot payment collection in Pakistani rupees, which will be beneficial for both exporters and importers.
