ISLAMABAD: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has achieved its highest-ever annual cargo handling volume of more than 54.685 million tonnes during the current fiscal year.

With this volume, the KPT has shattered its 138-year record, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan’s national trade and maritime economy.

“The achievement is a clear reflection of a growing maritime sector and substantially impr­oved po­rt efficiency,” Federal Minister for Maritime Aff­a­­irs Junaid Anwar Chaud­hry said while announcing the milestone on Sunday.

The minister attributed the historic performance to “enhan­ced operational efficiency, effective management and increased port capacity”.

He said the record reflected the success of his ministry’s ongoing reform agenda as well as the professional capabilities of the institution.

While congratulating KPT Chairman retired Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, the port officers and the workforce, the federal minister emphasised that the achievement was the direct result of coordinated planning, rigorous teamwork and sustained organisational efforts.

He said the government was continuing measures to modernise ports, expand their capacity, strengthen logistics infrastructure and provide facilities in line with international standards to enhance Pakistan’s position as a regional maritime and trade hub.

For the future, the minister said the government would continue implementing targeted measures to modernise ports, expand overall handling capacity and strengthen logistics infrastructure.

He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to providing port facilities in line with international standards to enhance Pakistan’s position as a regional maritime and trade hub.

He said the ministry rem­­ained focused on at­­­t­­­­racting foreign investment and promoting tra­de activity to support br­­o­­ader national economic growth.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2026