Karachi Port handles record 111,300 TEUs amid Middle East crisis

Pakistan’s Karachi Port Trust has recorded its highest-ever monthly container handling, processing 111,300 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during a period of heightened regional tensions linked to the Middle East crisis.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the milestone reflects improved operational efficiency and coordinated measures taken to maintain cargo flows.

He said the government reduced port charges by 60 per cent to support trade activity, providing cost relief to businesses and encouraging higher throughput at ports.

In parallel, Port Qasim Authority handled 3,485 TEUs with spare capacity and cleared its backlog, while Gwadar Port carried out its first dedicated trans-shipment operations, with four vessels processed so far.

A high-level committee formed in March has positioned Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar as a combined trans-shipment hub to support regional logistics and trade continuity.

The minister said customs reforms introduced in coordination with the Federal Board of Revenue replaced full container scanning with a risk-based system, reducing clearance times and enabling less-than-container load operations for smaller traders. Perishable exports are now subject to only 4 per cent scanning.

Authorities also cleared long-standing congestion through measures including waiving storage charges and auctioning surplus goods. For the first time, port operations continued during Eid holidays, handling over 2,500 container movements.

To improve inland logistics, four freight trains are scheduled to begin operations between Karachi Port and Pipri from September, aimed at reducing transport delays and improving cargo movement.

Karachi Port Trust Chairman Shahid Ahmed said the port has sufficient capacity to support long-term trade growth, adding that infrastructure upgrades, including edible oil terminals and ferry services, are already operational.

Officials said the reforms are aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s position as a regional maritime and logistics hub while ensuring continuity in trade and energy supply.