KCAA disappointed by operational failures at KICT, KGTL for two decades

KARACHI: Businesses are facing serious delays at Karachi International Container Terminal and Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL), following no improvements in space, machinery, and manpower for nearly two decades.

The Karachi Customs Agents Association (KCAA) has raised alarm over deteriorating conditions at KICT and KGTL, where Pakistan’s imports and exports have increased manifold over nearly two decades without corresponding upgrades to handling capacity.

“Pakistan’s imports and exports have increased manifold, but KICT and KGTL (formerly PICT) are still operating at nearly the same capacity as they were fifteen to twenty years ago,” the KCAA said.

Despite a multiple-fold increase in trade volume, no substantial improvement has been made in yard space or handling facilities. As a result, container storage space is rapidly diminishing, and discussions are now underway regarding the diversion of vessels, the KCAA said.

Furthermore, it said that containers now face delays of five to six days awaiting Customs examination and grounding, imposing heavy financial burdens on importers through excessive demurrage and detention charges.

The daily number of containers marked for examination has nearly doubled, from approximately 100 per day to 150-200 containers daily; however, the infrastructure at KICT and KGTL has failed to keep pace, it added.

At the same time, the Customs department is also facing an acute shortage of examination staff, the KCAA said, warning that overburdened staff are not only increasing delays but also compromising examination quality.

The staffing crisis extends to senior positions, with the number of Assistant Collectors and Deputy Collectors declining significantly. Where once each group had a dedicated AC or DC, a single officer now commonly oversees multiple groups, creating administrative bottlenecks and decision-making delays.

The situation is particularly critical given that nearly 80 percent of Pakistan’s international trade flows through Karachi Port, making efficient operations essential to the national economy, the KCAA said. Therefore, the KCAA urged the authorities to take immediate action by enhancing port capacity, providing modern cargo-handling machinery, increasing Customs examination staff, and posting experienced officers at the AC/DC level in Karachi Customs Appraisement South.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026