KARACHI: South Korean shipping company, HMM, on Wednesday launched the India North Europe Express (INX) weekly shipping service in Pakistan, providing the South Asian country direct access to Europe.
The service, launched in collaboration with Ocean Network Express (ONE) container liner and Pakistan’s United Marine Agencies (UMA), will ensure timely and efficient delivery of Pakistani goods to the destined European ports and beyond, according to HMM.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to boost trade and seek international partnerships to expand its maritime activities, according to Pakistani officials. The initiative will streamline logistics, enhance connectivity, and drive economic growth in the region.
“Our country has abundance of marine, fisheries, mineral and energy resources that can generate additional revenues,” said Vice Admiral Faisal Abbasi, Pakistan Navy commander in Karachi, noting that Pakistan was located at the crossroads of three geographical locations: the gateway to Central Asia, Southwest Asia and the Arabian Gulf.
He said the sea lines of communication (SLOCs) allow nations to stretch beyond their land borders, facilitating access to and exchange of raw materials and trade goods.
“Today, as much as 75 percent of international trade takes place over water and same is expected to continue growing in foreseeable future,” Vice Admiral Abbasi added.
The service, which was launched at a ceremony in the port city of Karachi, will begin operations on Feb. 5. It will directly link western India to northern Europe, according to HMM. The maiden voyage will begin from Karachi under the port rotation: Karachi–Hazira–Mundra–Nhava Sheva–Colombo–London Gateway–Rotterdam–Hamburg–Antwerp–Karachi.
“The INX service promises a robust, direct maritime connection from Western India to Northern Europe, turning around in just 11 weeks with a fleet of 6,000 TEU container ships,” said Sohail Shams, CEO of the United Marine Agencies (UMA), the HMM agent in Pakistan.
“This development not only diversifies maritime service portfolio in the region but also amplifies opportunities for regional trade and global transshipment through this strategic hub.”
He said UMA is dedicated to providing outstanding shipping services and plays a crucial role in strengthening Pakistan’s maritime trade through its representation of leading global shipping lines and handling of cargo to destinations worldwide.
“This service signifies more than just a route, it represents progress, innovation, and the shared commitment of our global partners to simplify and enhance international trade,” Sohail said. “This strategic network underscores the significance of Karachi as a vital trade hub and gateway to global markets.”
Yang Jungmo, a top HMM official for Southwest Asia, also addressed attendees at Wednesday’s launch, highlighting the significance of the INX service for global trade and emphasizing the company’s commitment to offering reliable and efficient shipping solutions.
Earlier this month, Dubai-based logistics giant DP World, in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation, launched a feeder service to transport shipping containers from Dubai to Karachi, Pakistani state media reported. Pakistani officials and DP World have also finalized terms for a freight corridor project from Karachi Port to the Pipri Marshalling yard in southern Pakistan.
Pakistan is currently on a tricky path to economic recovery since avoiding a default in June 2023. The South Asian country last year secured a new $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and has been actively pursuing trade and investment opportunities to put the economy back on track.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Wednesday tabled amendments to a contentious cybercrime law in parliament, lowering the punishment for spreading “fake information” online to three years, according to a draft of the document. 
Pakistan’s state minister for information technology, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, last month confirmed the government was reviewing amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. Passed in 2016 by the then government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, the law was originally enacted to combat various forms of cybercrime, including cyber terrorism, unauthorized access, electronic fraud and online harassment, but it has variously been used to crack down on journalists, bloggers and other critics of the state.
The amendments proposed up to five-year imprisonment or fine extending to Rs1 million ($3,588) or both for anyone who “intentionally” posts false information online to create “a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest.”
“Whoever intentionally disseminates, publicly exhibits or transmits any information through any information system , that he knows or has reason to believe or has reason to believe to be false or fake and likely to cause or create a sense of fear, panic or disorder or unrest in general public or society shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend up to three years or with fine which may extend to two million rupees or with both,” Section 26A of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2025 states.
The amendments also propose establishing a “Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority,” which would perform several functions related to social media such as education, awareness, training, regulation, enlistment, blocking and more.
It said that anyone “aggrieved by fake and false information” would be able to approach the authority to remove or block access to the content in question, adding that the authority would issue orders no later than 24 hours on the request.
“Any person aggrieved by fake or false information may apply to the Authority for removal or blocking of access to such information, and the Authority shall, on receipt of such application, not later than twenty-four hours, pass such orders as it considers necessary including an order for removal or blocking access to such information,” a copy of the amendment bill states. 
The draft stated that authority would have the power to issue directions to a social media platform to remove or block online content if it was against the “ideology of Pakistan,” incited the public to violate the law, take the law in their own hands with a view to coerce, intimidate or “terrorize” public, individuals, groups, communities, government officials and institutions. 
The authority will also have the power to issue directions to the social media platform if the online content incited the public or section of the public to cause damage to governmental or private property; coerced or intimidated the public or section of the public and thereby prevented them from carrying on their lawful trade and disrupted civic life, the draft said.
Pakistan’s digital rights experts have recently pointed to the government’s restrictions on the Internet, which include a ban on social media platform X since February 2024 and on the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) as moves to curtail freedom of speech and voices of dissent. 
The government rejects these allegations and has repeatedly said it is enacting laws to battle fake news on social media platforms.