Islamabad (TDI): Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Friday presided over a high-level consultative meeting aimed at enhancing the efficiency of Karachi’s ports through improved hinterland connectivity.
The session, held in Islamabad, brought together key officials, including Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Member Infrastructure Waqas Anwar, the CEO of the Public-Private Partnership Authority, and senior representatives from the Ministries of Maritime Affairs, Railways, Communications, Aviation, and Commerce.
Member Infrastructure Waqas Anwar presented a comprehensive briefing, outlining progress by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs on cross-cutting issues highlighted by a committee constituted by the Prime Minister’s Office.
He pointed out that Pakistan’s merchandise trade, at 26% of GDP, lags far behind the global average of 44%.
He added that Pakistan’s ports handle over 3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually, with two-thirds of the traffic processed at Karachi’s three terminals and the rest at Port Qasim.
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Rail connectivity to Karachi Port remains underutilized, with the majority of cargo transported via road, leading to severe congestion and environmental degradation.
Anwar noted that limited rail capacity for cargo handling contributes to inefficiencies.
Road congestion is further exacerbated by truck curfews during peak hours (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), which restrict freight movement.
While Port Qasim benefits from superior road access via the N-5 and M-9 through the Eastern Bypass, the area could face similar challenges by 2030 without improved rail connectivity.
To address these challenges, the briefing proposed short- and long-term measures.
Immediate solutions include instituting round-the-clock port operations and scheduling freight truck movements to reduce bottlenecks.
Trucks would be required to follow pre-arranged schedules for accessing port gates.
Long-term Relief
For long-term relief, the development of an elevated expressway was proposed as a priority project to alleviate congestion.
Simultaneous investment in rail infrastructure was recommended to improve up-country freight transport efficiency and reduce transportation costs.
An integrated approach to these projects was emphasized to ensure maximum impact.
Following the discussion, Ahsan Iqbal underscored the critical role of efficient ports in national economic growth.
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He directed the formation of a committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Planning, Port Qasim Authority, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, National Highway Authority (NHA), and Ministry of Railways.
The committee has been tasked with presenting a consensus-driven solution within two weeks.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing inefficiencies in port operations, enhancing trade capabilities, and ensuring sustainable economic development.
