Karachi - Pakistan Port Information

Pakistan

Country and Port Information

Agriculture is the mainstay of Pakistan's economy, employing almost 50% of the population. Wheat, rice, cotton, sugarcane, and tobacco are the chief crops, and cattle and sheep are raised. Most of Pakistan's agricultural output comes from the Indus basin. The country is now self-sufficient in food, as vast irrigation schemes have extended farming into arid areas, and fertilizers and new varieties of crops have increased yields. Pakistan's industrial base is able to supply many of the country's needs in consumer goods, although production has slowed in recent years. The country's natural resources provide materials for such industries as textile production (the biggest earner of foreign exchange), oil refining, metal processing, and cement and fertilizer production. Remittances from Pakistanis working abroad constitute the second largest source of foreign exchange. Since the mid-1950s electric power output has greatly increased, mainly because of the development of hydroelectric power potential and the use of thermal power plants. Pakistan's chief imports are petroleum, machinery, transport equipment, chemicals and edible fats and oils. The chief trading partners are the European Union nations, the United States, Japan, and China. In 2002, Pakistan has restored good relations with most of the international financial institutions and had managed to greatly improve its fiscal and foreign exchange situation.

Map of Karachi with links to Terminal and Port Authority web sites

General Comments and Background on the Ports of Karachi

Firstly, there are two ports in Karachi. One is Karachi Port, sometimes known as Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Karachi (Old Port) or Keamari. Our Principals mostly utilize Karachi Port.The other port is Port Mohommad Bin Qasim, otherwise known as Port Qasim.Karachi Port has two integrated container terminals and some conventional berths while Port Qasim has one integrated container terminal.Karachi Port has Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) which is a Hutchinson owned terminal. This terminal is located on the West Wharf of Karachi. This is important as moving cargo from East Wharf to West Wharf is not easy. KICT caters to main line operators and most of the feeder operators call East Wharf where they have to use their ship’s gear or the mobile cranes. East Wharf also has a container terminal called PICT which is run by a local company.Port Qasim is located at a distance of 50km from Karachi City Center and 15 km from National Highway. Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) is located in Port Qasim and handles 100% of the containerized cargo for that port. It is owned by P+O Ports (now DPW), Maersk Line and the Mega-In Group.There are three off dock bonded CFS warehouses which are authorized by the government. Two are located near Karachi port and one near Port Qasim

Commercial Comments

In general Karachi Port’s East Wharf is the least productive and inefficient of all three. But, as Karachi importers and exporters find it cheaper to use, the trade maintains a favourable view of it.The second most favourable place is KICT, which is also close to Karachi, but unlike east wharf is productive and efficient. Lastly, QICT, is far from Karachi and has similar charges to most Container Terminals. Some industries located in Qasim Industrial Area like it for proximity, and some industries in Northern Pakistan also avoid certain excise taxes if they do not transit through Karachi City.

Useful Links

KICT Website – http://www.kictl.com/
PICT Website – http://www.kpt.gov.pk/
QICT Website – http://www.qict.net/

Resources: http://anchorshipping.com/ctryport_info/index.shtml