Latest news with #KarachiInternationalContainerTerminal
Business Recorder
28-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
KICT assures to ease container backlog amid industry protest
KARACHI: Amid rising complaints over growing delays in container examinations at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT), the terminal operator has assured the trading community that it is working closely with Pakistan Customs to swiftly address the backlog. In an official statement issued Wednesday, KICT said it remains committed to facilitating trade and ensuring efficient terminal operations for all stakeholders. It confirmed that the Collector Appraisement (West) has taken urgent measures, doubling the examination staff deployed at the terminal to fast-track the clearance process. KICT is confident that, with joint efforts, the situation will normalise soon, the statement added. The development follows a strongly-worded statement from the Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA), which raised serious concerns over operational inefficiencies and mounting backlogs at KICT. In a formal communication last week, KCAA warned that escalating delays in container grounding and examination were causing financial losses, increased demurrage and detention charges, and deteriorating service standards for the trading community. 'We wish to draw immediate attention to the delays in container grounding at KICT. Despite repeated follow-ups from our members, there has been no significant improvement in operations,' the KCAA said. The association also submitted a copy of the Daily Examination & Grounding Report of KICT to support its claims. The KCAA noted that even priority containers submitted for urgent handling are facing delays, while an insufficient and poorly coordinated labour force has worsened the situation. It further pointed out that containers often remain in the examination area for extended periods after inspection due to delays in sealing and removal, causing terminal congestion and operational disruption. The association also criticised the inadequate space allocated for the examination of A-class cargo, urging KICT to immediately expand and upgrade the area to meet rising trade volumes and operational demands. The terminal's management, while acknowledging the concerns, expressed confidence that the collaborative measures now underway with Customs will soon resolve the crisis. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
06-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Modernising KICT, SAPT: $1bn investment with Hutchison Port Holdings on the anvil
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, while underscoring the key role of national shipping industry in bolstering international trade, has said that in this connection the government's initiative includes a fast-track strategy for a $1 billion investment with Hutchison Port Holdings Limited, focusing on modernising the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and South Asia Pakistan Terminals Limited (SAPT). Speaking at an event, the minister said the government was actively inviting global shipping companies to invest in Pakistan's maritime sector, leveraging the country's strategic location. The event was hosted by Aasim A Siddiqui, managing director of Pakistan Intermodal Limited (PIL), and attended by senior management from shipping lines and terminal operators. The minister emphasised the government's commitment to modernising maritime infrastructure and enhancing operational capacities across the nation. CK Hutchison plans $1bn port investment On March 18, 2025, the Hutchison Ports, one of the world's leading ports network, has agreed to fast-track its $1 billion investment plan to modernise Pakistan's port infrastructure during a meeting between Chaudhry and Andy Tsoi, Managing Director of Hutchison Port Holdings Limited. The two sides met to discuss 'swift execution of the previously proposed $1 billion investment aimed at upgrading Pakistan's port infrastructure'. Andy Tsoi reiterated Hutchison Ports' commitment to Pakistan and emphasised the importance of efficient execution to maximise economic benefits, it added. 'Both sides discussed regulatory clearances, infrastructure upgrades, and supply chain improvements, agreeing to remove bottlenecks that could slow down the project. Special attention was given to accelerating the deployment of automation, digitalisation, and green port solutions to ensure sustainable operations.' Chaudhry highlighted that over 90 percent of Pakistan's trade volume was managed through seaports, with the maritime sector contributing more than 10 per cent to the country's GDP and providing employment to over two million individuals, both directly and indirectly. He noted that the Karachi Port Trust alone had the capacity to handle over 125 million tons of cargo annually. In the fiscal year 2023, the shipping sector generated approximately $235 million in revenue, with oil tankers accounting for about 70 per cent of this figure. Addressing the financial implications of relying on foreign shipping companies, the minister pointed out that Pakistan spends an estimated $6-8 billion annually on freight charges. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
