MSC is bringing back its PREMIUM IPAK service, a weekly container service from Karachi to Northern Europe. The Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, announced it in Islamabad on Thursday 8 October.
The service
- Frequency: weekly
- Karachi terminal: Karachi Gateway Terminal
- Route: via Colombo to Felixstowe, London Gateway, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Hamburg and Bremerhaven
One thing to be clear about: the ships go via Colombo, so it is a dedicated weekly service rather than a non-stop run. The point is a regular, reliable connection to the main European ports instead of cargo waiting for space on whatever passes through the region.
Why exporters pushed for it
Since the Red Sea diversions started, Europe-bound cargo from Pakistan has had longer voyages, higher freight and less predictable schedules. Textile and garment exporters have felt it most, because European fashion buyers work to fixed seasonal delivery dates. Export houses asked the ministry for dedicated European capacity, and this is the result.
It matters because the EU, taken together, is one of Pakistan's largest export markets. Trade data cited by the Pakistan Business Council shows the EU bought about 29% of all Pakistani exports in 2025.
What the ports have promised
The Karachi Port Trust chairman has proposed changes to help the service run smoothly:
- delivery orders issued electronically, 24/7
- risk-based inspections, so low-risk cargo is checked less
- joint sampling and non-intrusive scanning
Terminal operators say they can do night inspections, and Pakistan Customs has been asked to run clearance shifts around the clock. None of that is in place yet. If it happens, it will help every exporter at Karachi, not only MSC customers.
The minister was also careful to say this service does not solve the wider security problems on international shipping lanes, and he is right. The Red Sea and the Gulf remain risky.
What exporters should do
- Compare it with your current routing. A weekly service with fixed days is easier to plan against. Check its transit time and reliability against what you use now before switching.
- Book ahead for the spring season. New capacity on a busy lane tends to fill quickly, especially in the months before European spring/summer deliveries.
- Get your paperwork ready early. Faster port procedures only help if your documents are ready when the cut-off comes.
Want to know whether PREMIUM IPAK fits your shipments? Send us your lane and volumes and we'll compare it with the other options.
Quick answers
Which European ports does MSC's Karachi service cover?
Felixstowe, London Gateway, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Hamburg and Bremerhaven, via Colombo, weekly from Karachi Gateway Terminal.
Is the MSC Karachi–Europe service direct?
It is a dedicated weekly service, but it calls at Colombo on the way, so it is not a non-stop voyage.
Who benefits most?
Exporters with regular Europe-bound cargo, especially textile and garment makers who need to hit seasonal delivery dates.
Sources: Retail News Asia · Arab News Pakistan · Express Tribune · APP