May 23, 2006	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 24, 1427

KARACHI, May 22: The Karachi Port has set a record by crossing psychological barrier of handling over one million containers last month. The higher economic growth resulting in enhanced imports and exports have contributed to record handling of all categories of cargo during ten months of the current fiscal.

However, the box handling at the port recorded an unprecedented growth by crossing one million mark which averaged at around 0.7 million Teus in the past.

The KPT during last couple of years took drastic measures by introducing automation and

computerisation in most of its operations which did not only improve efficiency but also reduced human involvement in port operations.

The port during the period under review handled 1,672 vessels, which include 838 container ships, 227 bulk cargo carriers, 309 general cargo ships and 298 marine tankers(for liquid cargo). The container cargo included handling of 852 Teus of transhipment.

The total dry cargo imports and exports, till April 2006, stood at 13.663 million tons and 4.336 million tons showing a growth of 41.91 per cent and 15.50 per cent, respectively, over the corresponding period last year.

Import of liquid bulk cargo stood at 7.702 million tons and exports at 1.255 million tons. The Karachi Port handled 24,518 tons of Afghan cargo, out of which 17,047 tons had been already delivered.