KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has achieved its highest-ever annual cargo handling volume in its 138-year history during the fiscal year 2025–26, according to Pakistan’s Ministry for Maritime Affairs.
Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Sunday that the port handled more cargo than ever before, surpassing its previous record of 54.685 million tonnes set in FY2017–18.
He added that the latest performance reflects improved operational efficiency, expanded capacity, and strengthened logistics management at the country’s premier seaport.
Cargo handling at the port includes the movement, loading, unloading and storage of goods between ships and land-based transport systems such as trucks and trains.
Official data shared by KPT indicates that the port handled 53.951 million tonnes in the preceding fiscal year (FY2024–25), highlighting a steady upward trend culminating in the new record.
Authorities attributed the surge in activity to a significant rise in transhipment operations, as international shipping lines increasingly redirected vessels to Pakistani ports amid disruptions in regional sea routes, including heightened tensions affecting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The shift has contributed to Pakistan’s emergence as a more prominent regional maritime and logistics hub in recent months.
In addition to bulk cargo growth, KPT also reported a record handling of containerised goods, exceeding 2.65 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the same fiscal year.
Officials further noted that the port’s improved performance is linked to ongoing reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and operational modernisation efforts aimed at enhancing efficiency and attracting greater international trade flows.
The ministry said Pakistan is continuing efforts to modernise its ports, expand capacity, and improve logistics infrastructure in order to strengthen its position in regional trade networks.
In May, KPT received its first fully dedicated transhipment vessel, marking a milestone in Pakistan’s development as a regional cargo redistribution hub.
More recently, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and local partners signed a memorandum of understanding to explore a maritime business district on 140 acres of KPT waterfront land.
Maritime authorities and port management have described the record-breaking performance as the result of coordinated planning, workforce commitment, and sustained institutional improvements, with further upgrades planned to enhance competitiveness and attract foreign investment.
