Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday directed port authorities to finalise and implement a comprehensive 30-day plan for shifting, auctioning, and disposing of stuck-up containers and surplus materials to ease congestion and enhance operational efficiency at port terminals.
Chairing a sub-committee review meeting on relocating stuck-up containers and auctionable cargo, the minister instructed relevant authorities to transfer these items from on-dock areas to designated off-dock facilities within the timeframe, read an official statement.
He stressed that port operations must remain seamless, ensuring domestic trade faces no disruption from transhipment cargo or stuck-up containers.
Noting the rising volume of transhipment cargo due to improved port performance and regional dynamics, Chaudhry called for a clear mechanism to shift it to off-dock terminals on defined commercial terms.
Authorities must also maintain an updated list of off-dock facilities and transhipment cargo records.
“Pakistan must seize emerging regional opportunities by adopting a forward-looking framework to sustain and expand our ports’ potential,” the minister said.
Officials reported that stuck-up containers and surplus materials can be relocated to sites like Sky Media Terminal, Al-Hamd Terminal, Northern Bypass, and other off-dock facilities. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will permit shipping companies to remove and destroy abandoned containers per regulations.
Terminal operators told to clear stuck goods in a month
Chaudhry asked the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to obtain detailed shifting plans from terminal operators and share them with the sub-committee and customs by week’s end.
In the meeting, it was also discussed that customs will facilitate the auction of stuck-up containers within one month, while terminal operators dispose of surplus items like wooden pallets and unused equipment in the same period. Rationalised reserve prices for mixed lots will speed up auctions.
Chaudhry expressed confidence that these coordinated steps will sharply reduce congestion, support trade, and boost maritime logistics efficiency.
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