Pakistan Ship's Agents Association

What Pakistan Ship's Agents Association does

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) is a private trade association founded in 1976 and headquartered in Karachi, Pakistan. It is licensed by the Ministry of Commerce's Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) under The Trade Organizations Act, 2013 as the sole trade association representing shipping agents on an all-Pakistan basis. PSAA's 60 member companies collectively handle vessels calling at Pakistani Ports, including Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port, and the association is governed by an Executive Committee and Office Bearers elected periodically by its members.

The association's core function is collective representation and advocacy rather than the delivery of a commercial product. Its activities center on resolving problems members encounter when dealing with port authorities (KPT, PQA, GPA), customs, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MOMA), the FPCCI, KDLB, and the Planning Commission, and on securing member representation on high-profile federal committees. The 2024-2026 leadership was elected at the AGM on 26 September 2024 at Karachi Boat Club, with Mr. Mohammed A. Rajpar as Chairman and Mr. Syed Tahir Hussain as Secretary General.

PSAA's revenue model is not publicly disclosed but is consistent with a membership-based trade association: it does not sell products, operate a technology platform, or charge per-transaction fees. Its underlying 'product' is institutional access, policy influence, and dispute resolution support for licensed shipping agents operating in Pakistan's ports.

Name

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association

Legal name

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association

Website

https://psaa.org.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) is the sole licensed trade association, founded in 1976, representing 60 shipping agencies handling vessels at Pakistani ports including Karachi, Port Qasim, and Gwadar. It provides collective advocacy, committee representation, and dispute resolution with port authorities, customs, and federal maritime bodies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Trade Association Services

NAICS

Navigational Services to Shipping (488330)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Owner/Operator Representation & Port Disbursement Account (PDA) Management (TLAHAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protecting Agency & Dispute/Contingency Handling (Charterer/Owner Interests) (TLAHAJAL), Trade, Export Controls & Customs Compliance (BPAHAFAN)

Keywords

• Maritime trade association
• Shipping agency representation
• Port advocacy services
• Shipping industry advocacy
• Maritime regulatory liaison

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Core offering

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) is a trade association formed in 1976 that provides collective representation and advocacy for 60 shipping agent member companies handling vessels calling at Pakistani Ports (Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and Gwadar Port). PSAA resolves members' problems with port authorities and government bodies, contributes to the long-term progress of Pakistan's ports and shipping industry, and holds an exclusive license from the Ministry of Commerce's Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) under The Trade Organizations Act, 2013 as the sole authorized trade association for shipping agents on an all-Pakistan basis.

Product overview

Pakistan Ship's Agents Association (PSAA) is a trade association, not a product company. It was formed in 1976 as the sole Trade Association representing Shipping Agents licensed by the Ministry of Commerce, Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO) under The Trade Organizations Act, 2013. PSAA comprises 60 reputed members handling vessels calling at Pakistani Ports. The association's activities focus on resolving problems faced by its members and contributing to the long-term progress of the Ports and Shipping industry in Pakistan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PSAA Trade Association Membership

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MOMA)coreOthersPSAA members are represented on several high profile committees formed by the Federal Government at MOMA; association enjoys high reputation at official levels of MOMA
• Karachi Port Trust (KPT)coreOthersPSAA enjoys high reputation at KPT official levels; members represented on committees formed by Federal Government at KPT
• Port Qasim Authority (PQA)coreOthersPSAA members represented on committees at PQA; high reputation at official levels of Port Qasim Authority
• Gwadar Port Authority (GPA)coreOthersPSAA members represented on committees at GPA; high reputation at official levels of Gwadar Port Authority
• Directorate General of Trade Organizations (DGTO)coreOthersPSAA is licensed by DGTO under The Trade Organizations Act, 2013 as the sole Trade Association representing Shipping Agents on all Pakistan basis
• FPCCI (Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry)coreOthersPSAA enjoys high reputation at FPCCI official levels; represents shipping industry interests through FPCCI
• Karachi Dock Labour Board (KDLB)supportingOthersPSAA members represented on committees at KDLB
• Planning CommissionsupportingOthersPSAA members represented on committees formed by Planning Commission

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Principal international trade association for the merchant shipping industry, representing around 80% of the world merchant tonnage. Comparable to PSAA in advocacy function, but at global scale.
• INTERTANKO: International trade association for the tanker industry, representing independent tanker owners and operators. Comparable as a maritime trade association, though focused on tankers rather than general shipping agency.
• BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council): The world's largest international shipping association, covering shipowners, operators, charterers, and agents. Comparable to PSAA as a maritime trade association, but operating at a much larger global scale.

Regional players

• Indian Ship Agents Association: National-level trade association representing ship agents in India — directly analogous to PSAA in function and structure, but serving the Indian maritime sector instead of Pakistan.
• Sri Lanka Ship Agents Association: National trade association for ship agents in Sri Lanka. Closely comparable to PSAA as a South Asian regional peer representing ship agents in a neighboring country.
• Pakistan Foreign Shipping Companies Association: Pakistan-based trade body representing foreign shipping lines operating in Pakistan — comparable to PSAA in terms of being a Pakistan maritime trade association, though it represents principals (carriers) rather than agents.
• United Kingdom Ship Agents and Brokers Association (UKSABA): UK national trade association representing ship agents and brokers — directly analogous to PSAA in structure and purpose, but serving the UK maritime sector rather than Pakistan.

Direct peers

• British Ports Association: UK trade association representing port operators and port-related service providers. Comparable to PSAA in its role as a port-sector advocacy body, though focused on the UK.
• FONASBA (Federation of National Associations of Ship Brokers and Agents): The global umbrella federation of national ship agents and brokers associations, directly comparable to PSAA as a trade body representing ship agents at the international level. PSAA is itself a member of FONASBA.

Others

• Karachi Port Trust (KPT): Pakistan's largest state-owned port authority, listed as one of PSAA's core government partners. Comparable in maritime sector context but not a peer — KPT is a port operator while PSAA represents ship agents.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pakistan Ship's Agents Association