KARACHI: For the first time in Pakistan, the country has received a RoRo vessel containing more than 2,000 electric vehicles. This indicates that the country is utilizing specialized RoRo vessels to import automobiles. The arrival of the first Pakistani RoRo vessel containing electric vehicles at the Karachi Port represents an upgrade in port facilities as well as a practical representation of the increasing number of EVs being imported to Pakistan.
At the Karachi Port, specifically, the Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited, the M.V. Grande Shanghai docked, from which the cars were discharged in an effortless manner by being driven off the ship through internal ramps without using cranes, as is necessary when automobiles are shipped in containers.
The Key to Understanding What Sets RoRo Apart
With the arrival of the first RoRo ship for electric vehicles import to Pakistan, a marine logistics system is being introduced to the country which is used by the largest auto importers of the world for decades now.
In respect to loading more than 2,000 electric cars in a ship, RoRo becomes very efficient. Loading vehicles using a ramp on several lanes simultaneously will take just hours instead of the days needed for unloading containers one by one using cranes. The Pakistan’s first RoRo electric cars operation shows that KGTML terminal of Karachi Port is capable of carrying out such operations, something that will be increasingly necessary as more electric cars are imported into Pakistan in pursuit of the 2030 2.2 million EVs goal.
A Milestone for Pakistani Shipping Industry
According to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, the introduction of Pakistan’s first RoRo vessels for electric vehicles is a landmark achievement for the country’s shipping industry as the nation has been making great strides in modernising its port facilities.
The minister made it clear that the project would enhance Pakistan’s trade and logistics operations, and he further added that modern port facilities would make Pakistan capable of handling increased numbers of vehicle imports and cargo requirements, especially given the increased number of EVs in the economy.
Maritime Milestone Week at Pakistan Ports
Pakistan’s first RoRo vessel carrying electric vehicles arrives following yet another remarkable milestone in the country’s maritime industry, as Port Qasim safely moors the biggest LNG carrier to ever berth at its PGPCL terminal despite difficult monsoons and rough seas.
This was because the ship was carrying 171,951 cubic meters of LNG, which was the biggest quantity of LNG carried by a vessel in this terminal ever before. Moreover, with its beam of 47.8 meters, the ship became the widest LNG carrier ever docked in Port Qasim Terminal under adverse weather conditions. The Port Qasim Authority called this a historic success, ensuring the energy security of Pakistan.
EV Import Quantities Are Causing the RoRo Demand
The first RoRo shipment of 2,000+ Electric Vehicles imported into Pakistan demonstrates the scale on which Pakistan’s market for EV imports is currently functioning. Already more than 160,000 electric motorcycles have been made locally, and imported EVs, especially those manufactured by Chinese firms, have been arriving in sufficient quantities to make specialized automotive transport a feasible venture.
As the government’s EV policy aims at getting 2.2 million electric vehicles into Pakistan by 2030, the logistical framework to import, clear and deliver large consignments of EVs effectively is just as important strategically as the recharging facilities and subsidy schemes by the government.
Nayab Fatima is a media professional specializing in fact-based journalism, research, and analytical reporting on technology, telecom, aviation, and automobiles.
