Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Shahid Ahmed has urged importers, customs agents and clearing brokers to adopt pre-arrival filing of Goods Declarations (GDs) as standard practice, highlighting its potential to accelerate cargo clearance and reduce port congestion.
Speaking at a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on Monday, he said cargo accompanied by pre-arrival GDs was being cleared in approximately 90 hours, compared with 296 hours for shipments without advance filing. The difference underscores the potential for early documentation to reduce delays, demurrage costs and operational bottlenecks.
The meeting also covered port infrastructure development, shipping connectivity, digitalisation, customs coordination and road networks, with business representatives calling for measurable improvements in trade facilitation.
Pre-Arrival GD Filing Can Accelerate Cargo Clearance
Shahid Ahmed encouraged the business community to submit Goods Declarations before cargo arrives at Karachi Port, explaining that advance filing could improve processing efficiency and reduce pressure on terminals.
He invited KCCI to submit a consolidated list of operational challenges along with practical recommendations. KPT, he assured participants, would coordinate with Pakistan Customs, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the Sindh Government and other relevant authorities to address these concerns.
The discussions highlighted the need for closer coordination among port authorities, customs officials, terminal operators and clearing agents to ensure that documentation and inspections do not create avoidable delays.
Karachi Port Dredging Nears Completion
The KPT chairman reported substantial progress on the port’s long-pending dredging project, stating that approximately 90% of the work had been completed.
The main channel has been deepened to around 14.5 metres, while the approach channel is expected to reach 16 metres after the remaining work is completed within 30–40 days.
The increased depth is expected to enable Karachi Port to accommodate larger vessels, improve shipping efficiency and strengthen its competitiveness in international trade.
Ahmed also said KPT and terminal operators had invested significantly in port infrastructure over the preceding eight to ten months.
Lower Charges and New Shipping Routes to Support Trade
To attract more transshipment and transit cargo, KPT has reduced relevant transshipment charges by approximately 80%, while terminal operators are offering a 25% discount and a 14-day free period.
Off-dock facilities with a combined capacity of approximately 150,000 have also been developed to facilitate cargo movement. The unit for this capacity was not specified in the information provided.
The chairman said Karachi Port had secured the 34th position among approximately 980 ports in the global Liner Shipping Connectivity Index.
A new direct Europe shipping service by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was expected to commence on the 26th, while KPT aims to increase direct shipping services by at least 100% by December 2026.
Greater direct connectivity could reduce reliance on transshipment through foreign ports, improve delivery schedules and help Pakistani exporters reach international markets more efficiently.
Port Improvements Could Save Businesses Billions
Ahmed estimated that improvements in vessel operations and cargo handling could generate annual savings of Rs30–40 billion for the business community.
He also said larger vessels could reduce cargo unloading time from approximately seven days to between one and one-and-a-half days.
Such improvements could lower vessel turnaround times and reduce the indirect costs associated with delayed shipments. For importers and exporters, the potential benefits include lower logistics expenses, improved scheduling and more predictable cargo movement.
However, the realisation of these savings will depend on the consistent implementation of operational improvements across the port and its associated logistics network.
Bunkering Business Offers New Maritime Opportunities
Highlighting emerging opportunities in maritime services, the KPT chairman said more than 160 vessels had already called in Pakistani waters for bunkering services.
He estimated that the bunkering business could exceed Rs300 billion annually within two to three years, potentially creating opportunities for refineries and other businesses connected with the maritime sector.
The projected expansion would provide an additional avenue for developing Pakistan’s maritime economy alongside conventional port and cargo-handling operations.
KPT Advances Digitalisation and Automated Port Operations
KPT is moving towards a technology-enabled operating model that includes artificial intelligence-based bulk cargo operations, automated equipment, a Vessel Traffic Management System and Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
The combined investment associated with these initiatives was estimated at Rs2–2.5 billion.
The authority is also introducing online services and electronic tendering to improve transparency, simplify administrative procedures and make port-related services more accessible to businesses.
Greater digitalisation could improve coordination, reduce paperwork and provide better visibility into cargo movement and port operations.
Road and Rail Connectivity Remains Critical
The KPT chairman identified several infrastructure projects as important for improving cargo evacuation and reducing congestion around Karachi Port.
These include Shahrah-e-Bhutto connectivity, Main Line-I, the 54-kilometre KPT–Pipri Freight Corridor and the proposed M-10 connection. The Lyari Expressway Elevated Corridor also remains under consideration.
Timely progress on these projects could improve the movement of containers and other cargo between the port, industrial areas and inland destinations.
The meeting also highlighted the need to improve roads serving Karachi Port and Port Qasim, particularly as heavy vehicles compete with regular traffic on Karachi’s congested road network.
KPT Addresses Land, Environment and Marine Waste
Ahmed said KPT had recovered more than 250 acres of encroached land and was pursuing mangrove rehabilitation across approximately 4,000 acres.
To address marine waste, a trash-skimming vessel with a reported collection capacity of 100 tonnes per day had been ordered from Karachi Shipyard.
These measures form part of the port authority’s broader efforts to address land management and environmental concerns alongside infrastructure modernisation.
Customs Coordination and Port Access Need Improvement
KPT is coordinating with relevant authorities to facilitate round-the-clock customs inspections, increase the availability of customs sealers and improve shift coordination.
The chairman also highlighted the financial contribution of the business community through the Sindh Infrastructure Development Cess (SIDC), estimating that importers collectively pay Rs140–160 billion annually.
KPT is seeking provincial government support to allocate a portion of these collections towards roads and other infrastructure serving the port.
Responding to transporters’ concerns, Ahmed said KPT had offered land for transport-related facilities. The Sindh Government had also committed approximately 100 acres near the Northern Bypass for a terminal, subject to coordination and the resolution of competing claims.
Zubair Motiwala Calls for Accountability and Measurable Results
Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) Zubair Motiwala appreciated progress in dredging, modernisation and port operations but stressed that these developments must translate into tangible benefits for importers, exporters and industrial consumers.
He questioned why dredging had remained pending for decades and called for accountability, regular maintenance and institutional continuity to prevent similar delays in future.
Motiwala also urged KPT to assess whether additional business generated through transshipment could support further reductions in costs for domestic businesses.
Calling for stronger performance standards, he proposed enforceable cargo-clearance timelines and systematic reporting of containers held beyond prescribed periods.
He recommended a joint committee comprising KPT, Pakistan Customs and business representatives to identify the causes of delays, establish responsibility and ensure corrective action.
Business Community Seeks Risk-Based Customs Clearance
Motiwala called for an effective risk-based profiling system under which compliant businesses could benefit from expedited clearance through the Green Channel, subject to applicable laws and risk-assessment criteria.
Under such an approach, authorities could focus inspections on higher-risk consignments while facilitating the movement of cargo from businesses with established compliance records.
He also stressed the need for suitable off-dock facilities and improved bypass connectivity to address transporters’ difficulties and Karachi’s worsening traffic congestion.
Motiwala maintained that SIDC collections should contribute towards roads, bridges and transport infrastructure serving the port and industrial areas.
KCCI Urges Joint Action on Terminal Congestion
KCCI President Talat Mahmood welcomed the KPT chairman and his delegation, including senior officials and Chief Collector of Customs Wajid Ali.
He emphasised that close coordination among KPT, Pakistan Customs and terminal operators was essential to resolving the concerns of the business community.
Mahmood described terminal congestion as a significant obstacle to trade and urged KPT, Customs and terminal operators, including KGTL and SAPT, to work jointly towards faster cargo clearance instead of shifting responsibility among stakeholders.
He also highlighted unresolved issues faced by transporters, acknowledging Motiwala’s efforts to address a recently threatened strike. In addition, he drew attention to difficulties faced by clearing agents in accessing containers at SAPT and called for improved coordination with terminal management.
KCCI Proposes Truck Staging Facilities and Permanent Coordination Committee
Mahmood advocated establishing a dedicated truck parking and staging area, potentially on a rental basis, where vehicles could wait in an organised manner and be called forward as terminal capacity became available.
Such a facility could help streamline truck movements, improve port operations and reduce congestion on Karachi’s roads.
He also proposed a permanent KPT–KCCI coordination committee to address genuine operational complaints promptly. He noted that lengthy administrative procedures often result in substantial demurrage charges before problems reach the relevant authorities.
The proposed committee, he clarified, would not bypass regulatory requirements. Instead, it would facilitate direct communication, quicker follow-up and the resolution of avoidable delays.