ISLAMABAD – The federal government has approved, in principle, the sale of a 30 percent shareholding in the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) to the National Logistics Corporation (NLC), alongside the transfer of full management control of the state-owned entity, officials said on Tuesday.
The decision was taken on the recommendation of a maritime affairs task force.
Under the arrangement, the NLC will acquire the equity stake and assume operational control of PNSC from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs.
Officials said the move is part of broader efforts to improve efficiency in the logistics and maritime sectors by integrating sea and land-based transport systems. While PNSC manages Pakistan’s shipping operations, the NLC is responsible for large-scale road freight and logistics services across the country.
The government will now determine the valuation of the stake and complete procedural requirements for the transfer.
Separately, officials said Pakistan continues to implement fiscal reforms under International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditions. In this regard, Rs136 billion in expenditure rationalisation has been approved to address revenue pressures in the current fiscal year.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) also reported the recovery of Rs327.7 billion in disputed tax cases, surpassing its target of Rs322 billion. Officials said Rs318.4 billion of the amount was realised following a court decision upholding the super tax.
In another development, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved supplementary grants worth over Rs8.6 billion for various federal projects ahead of the close of the financial year.
The approvals include Rs1.5 billion for the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme, Rs3.9 billion for youth skills development initiatives and Danish schools across multiple regions, and Rs1 billion for reforms in the agriculture sector through the National Agri-Trade and Food Safety Authority.
The ECC also sanctioned funds for railway liabilities, maintenance of the Prime Minister’s Office, and an increase in stipends for Jammu and Kashmir refugees from Rs3,500 to Rs6,000 per month.
Separately, the committee approved the National Policy to Unlock Pakistan’s Gemstone Potential 2026–2030, aimed at formalising the sector, improving mining practices, and increasing exports from Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
