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KARACHI: Pakistan said on Saturday the World Bank’s recognition of Port Qasim as one of the world’s most improved container ports was proof of sustained reforms in the country’s maritime sector, expressing hope the achievement would help position the facility as a regional shipping hub and attract investment.

The World Bank’s latest Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2024, compiled with S&P Global Market Intelligence, ranked Port Qasim ninth among the top 20 improving ports worldwide this week, citing a 35.2-point leap in performance between 2020 and 2024.

“The inclusion of Muhammad Bin Qasim Port among the world’s top 20 improving ports is a reflection of our continuous efforts to modernize port operations, adopt global best practices, and enhance efficiency,” Federal Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said in a statement. “We remain committed to strengthening the maritime sector and making it a vital contributor to national and regional trade.”

Chaudhry said the recognition underscored Islamabad’s determination to transform its ports into competitive regional hubs, highlighting policy measures, regulatory reforms and investment in modern technology.

He also credited private operators, particularly DP World’s Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT), for maintaining international standards, and announced approval of a long-awaited dredging project to accommodate larger vessels and boost capacity.

He added that Port Qasim’s rise in the global index strengthened Pakistan’s credentials as a regional shipping hub, alongside Karachi and Gwadar, which are also undergoing modernization.

He said improved port performance was expected to attract foreign investment in maritime and logistics industries, while providing exporters and importers with more reliable and cost-efficient shipping.

“This achievement is only a beginning,” he said. “Our aim is to transform Pakistan’s maritime gateways into drivers of economic growth, regional integration and prosperity.”

ISLAMABAD: A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, which caught fire after an Israeli drone attack off the Yemeni coast and had 24 Pakistanis among its multinational crew, has finally departed port with its crew, who were detained by the Houthis after the incident, according to two government functionaries on Saturday.

The foreign office said in a statement the incident occurred on 17 September, when the LPG tanker caught fire, leaving the vessel stranded at port. It did not provide details on what triggered the blaze. However, the country’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi attributed the fire to an Israeli drone attack and said the crew were subsequently held captive on the ship.

Local media had earlier reported the Pakistani nationals were “stranded” after the fire.

“An LPG tanker with 27 crew members (24 Pakistanis, including Captain Mukhtar Akbar; 2 Sri Lankans; 1 Nepali) was attacked by an Israeli drone while docked at Ras Al-Esa port (under Houthi control) on 17 September 2025,” Naqvi wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “One LPG tank exploded and the crew managed to extinguish the fire. The vessel was subsequently stopped by Houthi boats and the crew were held hostage aboard the ship.”

The minister expressed his gratitude to Pakistani officials in �������� and Oman who worked to resolve the situation, securing “the safe release of our citizens when hope was fading.”

He said “the tanker and its crew have now been released by the Houthis and are out of Yemeni waters.”

Earlier, the foreign office confirmed the incident, saying the relevant Pakistan embassies had established contacts with the authorities in Yemen to ensure the well-being of the crew.

“Efforts were made to set the tanker underway again,” foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said in a statement.

He said the diplomatic missions had maintained contact with the family members of the Pakistani crew and kept them updated about the latest situation.

“Today, the LPG tanker has departed port and is making way out of the Yemeni waters,” he added. “The entire crew including Pakistani nationals on board is safe and sound.”

Yemen is not a major exporter of liquefied petroleum gas, ranking 243rd globally in 2023, according to trade data.

However, LPG remains vital for domestic cooking and heating in the country, and imports through Red Sea ports such as Hodeidah and Ras Issa have continued amid conflict-driven supply disruptions.