Karachi Port’s PLSCI hit 343.02 in Q2 2026—from 309.81 in Q1 and above the recent high of 329.24 in Q2 2024. Pakistan’s overall LSCI ranking moved from 35th to 34th. The index tracks calls, capacity, services, lines, ship size, and direct links—not just TEUs. Maritime Minister Chaudhry ties it to more market access for firms.

The score had slipped (298.56 in Q3 2025) then recovered. Latest FY: 2,000 vessel calls and over 2.65 million TEUs; terminals are adding capacity. Connectivity is not competitiveness: cargo still has to reach factories, farms, dry ports, and buyers via roads, rail, and predictable customs. Geography near Gulf–Central Asia routes only pays if inland logistics work.

UNCTAD: Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, and Singapore still lead Q2 2026. High logistics costs and slow clearance can leave a record index as a statistic. Pair the port with digital customs, warehouses, power, and export industry. Ports do not invent trade; competitive production does.

For a country whose economy is heavily dependent on international trade, Pakistan’s maritime connectivity is more than a shipping statistic. It is an indicator of how effectively the country is connected to the global economy. Karachi Port’s Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI) rising to a record 343.02 in the second quarter of 2026 therefore deserves attention. The score increased from 309.81 in the first quarter and exceeded the previous recent high of 329.24 recorded in the second quarter of 2024. Pakistan’s overall Liner Shipping Connectivity Index ranking also improved from 35th to 34th.

The significance of the development becomes clearer when the nature of the index is understood. The........

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