Islamabad, November 23, 2024 – The Europe Today: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, presided over a high-level consultative meeting on Friday, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of Karachi ports through improved hinterland connectivity.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Planning Awais Manzur Sumra, Member Infrastructure Waqas Anwar, CEO of the Public Private Partnership Authority, and senior representatives from the Ministries of Maritime Affairs, Communications, Railways, Aviation Division, and Commerce Division.
Progress and Challenges at Karachi Ports
During the session, Member Infrastructure Waqas Anwar provided a comprehensive briefing on port efficiency and progress updates from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs. He highlighted critical statistics, noting that Pakistan’s merchandise trade as a percentage of GDP stands at 26%, significantly below the global average of 44%. From 2015 to 2020, the country’s ports handled over 3 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of container traffic annually, with Karachi’s terminals managing two-thirds of this load and the remainder handled at Port Qasim.
The briefing revealed key challenges, including:
- Underutilized Rail Access: Most cargo is transported via road due to insufficient rail infrastructure for efficient loading and unloading operations.
- Road Congestion at Karachi Port: Curfews on truck movement between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. lead to significant congestion, impacting traffic flow in and around the port.
- Future Risks at Port Qasim: While road connectivity is currently better, congestion could worsen by 2030 without enhanced rail links.
Proposed Solutions
To address these challenges, short- and long-term measures were proposed:
- Short-Term Measures:
- Implementing 24/7 port operations.
- Scheduling freight truck movements to reduce congestion, allowing entry at port gates only during pre-arranged times.
- Long-Term Solutions:
- Developing an elevated expressway as a priority project to ease road congestion.
- Simultaneously investing in rail infrastructure to improve freight transport to up-country areas, lowering transportation costs.
Government Commitment
After detailed discussions, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal stressed the importance of resolving these issues to bolster national economic growth. 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 conducting a comprehensive review of the challenges and presenting a consensus-based solution within two weeks.
The Federal Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing port efficiency, boosting trade, and ensuring sustainable economic development, emphasizing that improved port infrastructure is pivotal for Pakistan’s economic progress.
