KPT makes headway in land recovery efforts

Recovers, allocates 230 acres via open tenders for business ventures

LAHORE:

The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has said that it has made notable progress in land recovery over the past few months as around 230 acres have being retrieved and allocated through transparent open tenders for business ventures. Apart from this, land policy and pricing structure have been made more business-friendly to promote investment.

KPT Chairman Rear Admiral (Retd) Shahid Ahmed visited the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) to discuss port modernisation, operational improvements and development projects.

In his address, the chairman stated that comprehensive reforms were underway to transform Karachi Port into a modern transshipment hub, under which port operations were being digitised and business facilitation had been given top priority. He informed businessmen that container handling capacity had increased significantly and a target of 2.7 million containers had been set for the current year.

He described the integration of the Vessel Traffic Management System, ERP system and Pakistan Single Window as a revolutionary step in port facilitation. In the coming years, the clearance and approval process will be fully digital and fast-tracked to slash business cost and time.

Ahmed revealed that 70% of long-delayed capital dredging work had been completed, which would increase channel depth and enable larger vessels to dock, thereby significantly reducing logistics costs. Also, efforts are underway to reduce dwell time in line with global benchmarks. The target is to bring it down from the current seven to eight days to five days over the next two years. The KPT chief highlighted major initiatives including the bunkering business, free terminal operations, ferry services and the establishment of a Maritime Business District. He said that the 140-acre Maritime Business District would bring banks, shipping lines, insurance companies and maritime institutions under one roof, making it a landmark project for Pakistan's logistics sector.

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh said that despite challenging conditions, the port had ensured continuity of operations and supported national trade. He praised the reduction in transshipment charges, provision of additional storage space and terminal facilitation measures.

He highlighted the issues faced by the business community, particularly the demurrage charges, delay in bank document clearance and customs processing, and stressed the need for their immediate resolution. He called for taking necessary practical steps to improve ease of doing business to boost investments and exports.