Minister urges AD Ports Group to rationalise terminal cargo handling charges

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has urged AD Ports Group to rationalise terminal cargo handling charges to make port operations more business-friendly and competitive.

The minister expressed these views during a meeting with a delegation from AD Ports Group at his office, where both sides reviewed ongoing projects at Karachi Port Trust (KPT).

The AD Ports Group delegation was led by Regional CEO Abdulaziz Zayed Al Shamsi and included Vice President Real Estate Abdulla Al Ansari, Board Member KGTL/KGTML Mustafa Ahmed, Country Head Pakistan AD Ports Adel Al Hosani, CEO KGTL/KGTML Khurram Aziz Khan, Project Manager Real Estate Adnan Ballaith, and Legal Advisor Saboor Karamat.

The federal minister emphasized the need to expedite the procurement of mechanization and digitization equipment, including cranes and loaders, to enhance efficiency and improve cargo handling at KGTL and KGTML terminals.

In response, AD Ports Group agreed to review the existing cargo handling charges. A negotiation committee has been constituted for this purpose.

The committee, comprising Chairman Karachi Port Trust Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed (Retd), SI (M), S Bt, and the country representative of AD Ports Group, will submit its recommendations within seven days.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026