A comprehensive set of recommendations to reduce container dwell time at Karachi Port and Port Qasim has been finalised to speed up cargo clearance, easing congestion, and aligning Pakistan’s seaports with international benchmarks.
The proposals were presented to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Tuesday by a high-level committee formed earlier this year. The minister directed that the recommendations be immediately shared with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), instructing it to prepare an implementation plan within two weeks.
Key Measures to Improve Efficiency
The recommendations target bottlenecks across the cargo clearance chain, from declaration filings and adjudication delays to laboratory testing, transportation, and auctioning of overstayed goods.
Proposals include:
Pre-arrival filing of goods declarations with fines for late submissions.
Virtual hearings to fast-track adjudication.
Use of rapid screening technologies and expanded testing facilities.
Faster auctioning and disposal of overstayed cargo to free up space.
Around-the-clock customs assessments, examinations, and shipping services.
To further ease congestion, the plan suggests truck holding areas, rail freight corridors, and multi-modal transport systems. For transportation, bonded transit extensions, simplified tracker installation, and lifting of nighttime restrictions on heavy vehicles have been advised.
Digitalisation and Monitoring
A major component of the strategy is digitalisation. Recommendations include AI-based risk profiling of importers, real-time communication channels for traders and transporters, and e-auction systems. The committee has also proposed reducing the free period for containers in green and yellow channels from five days to three, alongside strict gate-out timelines and penalties for non-compliance.
New Implementation Mandate
The minister restructured the committee, assigning it a new role as an implementation body responsible for coordinating with FBR and monitoring progress. Acting KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Ateeq-ur-Rehman and Rear Admiral Muhammad Khalid, Director Operations of Port Qasim Authority, also attended the meeting via video link.
Chaudhry said the reforms aim to streamline port operations, cut business costs, and make Pakistan’s ports more competitive in the region.
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