Pakistan urges AD Ports Group to review cargo charges at Karachi Port terminals

Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister has asked Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group to rationalise cargo handling charges at terminals operated at the Karachi Port Trust, as Islamabad looks to improve port competitiveness amid rising regional trade pressures.

The request was raised during a meeting in Islamabad between Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and a senior delegation of AD Ports Group, where both sides reviewed ongoing terminal operations and investment projects at the Port of Karachi, according to an official statement.

The minister said Pakistan is focused on improving port efficiency, lowering logistics costs and accelerating digitisation to attract maritime trade and investment, particularly as regional ports compete on pricing and turnaround times. He urged AD Ports Group to review existing cargo handling charges to make operations more business-friendly.

Chaudhry also called for faster procurement of mechanisation and digitisation equipment, including cranes and loaders, to enhance cargo handling capacity and operational efficiency at Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited and Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited.

In response, AD Ports Group agreed to review the current tariff structure and form a negotiation committee to assess the issue. The committee, comprising the chairman of Karachi Port Trust and the country representative of AD Ports Group, is expected to submit its recommendations within seven days.

Pakistan and AD Ports Group have expanded cooperation at the Port of Karachi in recent years. In June 2023, AD Ports, in partnership with UAE-based Kaheel Terminals, signed a 50-year concession agreement with KPT to develop and operate the Karachi Gateway Terminal on the port’s East Wharf.

The partnership was further expanded in February 2024 with a 25-year concession agreement for bulk and general cargo terminals at berths 11–17, giving the group operational control over about 2,300 metres of quay wall. Additional memorandums of understanding signed in late 2024 have explored wider cooperation in customs, logistics, rail and airport infrastructure, reflecting broader engagement between the two sides.