Key port information can also be found at: Maritime Database information on Pakistan Ports

Port Overview

Karachi is known as the gateway to Asia due to its geographical and strategic location. Karachi city also has the distinction of being the birthplace of the founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah and was the first capital of Pakistan till 1963. It is now the largest city with a bustling and ever increasing population of over 18 million.

By 1852, Karachi was an established city with a population of about 14,000 with prosperous trade in over-seas markets. However, the existing Karachi Port started taking shape in 1854, when the projects of dredging the main navigable channel and the construction of a mole or causeway joining the main harbour with the rest of the city were undertaken. The construction of the wharves started in 1882, and by 1914 the East Wharves and the Napier Mole Boat Wharf had been completed. During the period between 1927 and 1944, the West Wharves of the Port, the lighterage berths and the ship-repairing berths were constructed. Most of these facilities were rendered obsolete by the time Pakistan came into existence in 1947. Since then, the port administration has embarked on extensive development of the port on modern lines.

Karachi Port is now handling over 11.74 million tons of liquid cargo and 25.45 million tons of dry cargo, including 1,213,744 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) which constitute about 60% of import/ export of the country.

Port website: Pakistan Port of Karachi Website

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

For information on Port of Karachi Port contact details, please see the following link:

4.3 Pakistan Port and Waterways Company Contact List

Port Performance

Berthing Specifications

OTHER INFORMATION

Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT)

Conventional Berths

The following are the details of the berths and permissible draft at West Wharf.

New deep water Container Terminal is going to built by M/S. Hutchison Group at Port of Karachi and permissible draft will be 18 Meters.

Port Handling Equipment

Container Facilities

Discharge Rates and Terminal Handling Charges

Port of Karachi Website information on Rates and Fees

Pakistan Port of Karachi Fees and Rates

Pilotage Fees

Pilotage fee is mandatory for all vessels entering and leaving the harbour and for any shifting within the harbor except for the following craft which will only be charged when services of pilot are availed;

a. Pakistan Navy ships

b. Foreign Men of War.

c. Fishing Boats.

d. Country Crafts.

GRT X 0.08 - inward

GRT X 0.08 - outward

(Minimum US $ 225 per act. Pilot cancellation US $ 300 per act.

Tug Services

For fee updates, please see the following link: Karachi Port Trust Website

Five Tugs are available at the Port, two are of 40 Tons and 3 are of 25 Tons bollard pull. Tug operations inside the harbor are rendered by Karachi Port Trust on signal from the Pilot. Tug operation is not provided outside the breakwater except in very special circumstances, at the discretion of the Deputy Conservator. This is subject to weather conditions and availability of tugs. Tug operations outside the breakwater are governed under special terms and conditions.

Tug charges:

US $ 970 for each Tug (2 Tugs inward)

US $ 970 for each Tug (2 Tugs outward)

1501-5000 GRT - 1 TUG

Above 5000 GRT - 2 TUGS.

Mooring Services

Port & Harbor Dues

Port dues will be levied on all vessels for each entry in Karachi Port, except for those vessels that have left the Port but are compelled to re-enter due to weather or in consequence of having sustained damage.

As well vessels belonging to the Pakistan Navy are exempted from port dues.

Dockage, Buoyage & Anchorage

Berthing charges are levied for use of wharves, quays, or any other structure so erected for the purpose and are charged to all vessels except those exempted mentioned above.

Supply of Fresh Water

Charges for supplying water to ships alongside wharves including oil pier per 1, 000 liters or per cubic meter = Rs 300 by private companies.

Pakistan International Container Terminal

PICT is a modern container terminal operating at berths 6-9, East Wharf, Karachi Port Design depth of berths is 13.5 meters

Quay Wall: 600 meters

Backup Area: 21 Hectares

Commenced terminal operation in 2002. Premier Mercantile Services (Pvt.) Ltd. (“PMS”) – the Sponsor of PICT – has been handling cargo at the Karachi Port since 1964

All equipment is brand new, commissioned in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008

PICT is the only Container Terminal in Pakistan Sponsored and Owned by Pakistanis

PICT is a public listed company and is the only port infrastructure project listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange

It is the first port infrastructure project in Pakistan financed by International Finance Corporation (“IFC”) -- the private sector arm of the World Bank

It is the first private sector project in Pakistan in which the OPEC Fund for International Development has participated as financiers

Total Investment: approx. USD 150 million

Terminal Equipment

6 Ship to Ship-to-Shore (“STS”) Quayside Gantry Cranes

STS No.1 & No.2

• 41 tons under Spreader Lifting Capacity
• Outreach 46 mtrs
• Post Panamax
• 25 moves per crane / hour average output

STS No.3, No.4, No.5 & No.6

• 45 tons under spreader Lifting capacity
• Out reach 54 mtrs
• Super Post Panamax
• 30 moves per crane/hour average output
• Twin Lift Spreader

2 Mobile Harbour Cranes

• 32 meters Lifting Radius
• 35 tons under spreader Lifting capacity
• 17 moves per crane/hour average output

Yard Equipment

• 20 Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (Dual powered – Diesel & Electric)
• 21 Reach Stackers including PMS equipment
• 01 Top Loaders
• 10 Empty Container Handlers including PMS equipment
• 10 Forklifts
• 01 RORO
• 70 Prime Movers (PICT 59, PMS 11)
• 20 Service Vehicles

REFRIGERATED CONTAINERS

• 300 Fixed Reefer Outlets
• 50 Mobile Outlets
• Each Reefer Outlet Powered by Indigenous Power Generation System

POWER GENERATION PLANT

PICT Power House caters for the entire domestic and commercial power needs of the Terminal

Present Capacity is 10 mega watts, with eight diesel generators of 1.2 MW each

Customs Guidance

For information on Pakistan Customs Guidance, please see the following link:

1.3 Pakistan Customs Information