Storage relief announced at KPT terminals to ease exporters’ burden

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Sunday announced storage charge waivers ranging from 25 to 50 percent at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) terminals to facilitate exporters affected by recent disruptions in Gulf-bound shipments.

The relief follows shipment delays that left export containers stranded at terminal yards and increased financial pressure on traders.

According to the Maritime Affairs Ministry, Karachi Port Trust secured a 50 percent waiver at KGTL for the period from March 1 to 20, 2026, a 50 percent waiver at KICT from March 1 to 10, and a 25 percent waiver at SAPT from March 11 to 31.

The waivers apply to export containers that could not be loaded due to operational issues at the terminals.

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Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed (retd), chairman of KPT, led the effort on the minister’s directions after consultations with terminal operators to address exporters’ concerns.

“The waivers aim to reduce financial pressure on importers and exporters, clear pending consignments, and boost cargo clearance efficiency,” the minister said.

He said the move was a positive step to support the export sector, ensure trade continuity, and ease logistical bottlenecks.

“Maritime institutions are being encouraged to adopt a more facilitative and trade-friendly approach so that operational delays do not translate into avoidable costs for stakeholders,” he added.

Junaid Chaudhry also stressed the need for better coordination among ports and terminals to ensure smoother logistics and improved service delivery.

He said such relief measures were part of a broader strategy to make the maritime sector more responsive and competitive, adding that efficient port operations were vital for economic stability, export growth, and investor confidence.