Karachi–Europe weekly shipping service restored: what MSC's return means for Pakistan's textile exporters

Key takeaways

• Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has brought back its weekly "Premium IPAK" Europe service from Karachi, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced on Thursday.
• Ships will call once a week at Karachi Gateway Terminal and connect, via Colombo, to seven European ports.
• The minister says exporters, especially in textiles, have faced longer transit times and higher freight costs because of disruption to routes such as the Red Sea.
• He warned the move does not solve the wider problems in global shipping.

The ports on the route

According to the ministry's statement as reported by Dawn and Business Recorder, the service links Karachi to these ports via Colombo in Sri Lanka. In other words, it is a dedicated weekly Europe service rather than a non-stop voyage.

Why exporters wanted it back

The minister said textile exporters had recently told him that longer vessel journeys were pushing up transport costs and delivery times to European and US markets, hurting their competitiveness. MSC reinstated the service in response to that demand, he said.

The European Union matters a lot for Pakistan. Arab News, citing Pakistan Business Council data, reports that the EU took about 29% of Pakistan's exports in 2025, and that textiles and clothing make up roughly three-quarters of what Pakistan sells to the bloc. Many of these goods enter the EU duty-free or at lower tariffs under the GSP+ scheme.

What the government says

"Reliable and predictable shipping connectivity is essential for Pakistan's exporters," the minister said, adding that the government is raising exporters' concerns with shipping lines. He thanked Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman Rear Admiral (retd) Shahid Ahmed and the Karachi Gateway Terminal management.

Separately, Dawn reports the KPT chairman has proposed 24/7 electronic delivery orders, risk-based and joint inspections, non-intrusive scanning and common sampling to speed up cargo clearance. Terminal operators said they were ready for night inspections, and Pakistan Customs was asked to support round-the-clock operations.

The caution

Chaudhry himself said the restored service "should not be viewed as a resolution" of wider shipping challenges. Disruption on established routes continues to affect global trade, and freight rates remain a concern for exporters.

What to watch

• Whether freight rates and delivery times for Pakistani exporters actually fall in the coming months.
• Whether other major shipping lines add or restore direct Europe calls at Karachi.
• Progress on KPT's 24/7 clearance proposals, which could cut port delays.