KARACHI, March 18: The Port Qasim during the period July-February of the current fiscal year handled 14 million tons of cargo, showing an increase of 39 per cent over the corresponding period last year. During the entire fiscal year ending on June 30, 2005, the port expects the volume of cargo handling to reach 21 million tons. Similarly, the port is expecting to cater for more than 45 per cent of the total seaborne trade requirements of the economy during the current fiscal year. The Port Qasim has progressively been transforming itself into the industrial and commercial hub of the country. To meet expanding requirements of the economy, the port has embarked on a number of development projects. Presently work is in progress for deepening and widening of navigational channel, textile city, acquisition of craft, Al-Watan Industrial Zone and second container terminal. This will not only change the socio-economic profile of Karachi, but will eventually make the Port Qasim a leading port of the country.

The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has played a major role in making the port cost effective and time efficient that greatly helped in reducing port call cost charges and earning savings to the national exchequer.

The port on March 17, 2005 made a record where a total of eleven moves of vessels were registered in a single day.