KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has handled more than 2.651 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) during the fiscal year ending this month, setting a new record for container throughput, Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister said on Friday.
Karachi Port is Pakistan’s largest seaport and handles a substantial share of the country’s seaborne trade. Container volumes are closely watched as an indicator of trade activity and port performance, while the government has been investing in infrastructure upgrades aimed at positioning Pakistan as a regional logistics and transshipment hub.
The latest milestone comes weeks after the port recorded its highest-ever monthly container volume in April, when it processed 111,300 TEUs, the standard measure used in global container shipping, amid regional shipping disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis.
“KPT has surpassed last year’s record of 2.651 million TEUs, creating history by achieving the highest-ever container handling volume,” Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said in a statement.
He attributed the performance to “improved operational efficiency and the government’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure.”
KPT Chairman Admiral Shahid Ahmad said the result reflected the port’s ability to accommodate rising trade volumes and support economic activity.
“The ongoing reforms, infrastructure upgrades and measures aimed at improving port services have contributed to the rise in cargo and container traffic,” Ahmad said.
Karachi Port set its previous container handling record in fiscal year 2024-25, when it processed 2.651 million TEUs alongside a cargo handling milestone of 54 million tons.
Chaudhry said the government would continue investing in maritime infrastructure and modernization to improve Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional and international shipping markets.
The minister said the government aims to position Pakistan as a logistics and transshipment hub connecting South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Neither KPT nor the maritime affairs ministry provided a detailed year-on-year comparison of container volumes in Friday’s statement.
