KPT’s truck parking facility: NA panel recommends additional land

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Maritime Affairs on Wednesday recommended that additional land be earmarked alongside the proposed 300-acre site for the Karachi Port Trust’s (KPT) truck parking facility, warning that the original land acquisition would be insufficient to meet future operational requirements.

The recommendation came during the committee meeting, chaired by Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA, where members reviewed the implementation status of previous recommendations concerning port infrastructure and traffic management.

During the meeting, officials informed the committee that, following its earlier directions, a proposal for the allotment of 300 acres had already been forwarded to the Board of Revenue for consideration.

READ MORE: Truck terminal along Northern Bypass: KPT seeks 600 acres of land from Sindh govt

However, the Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs told the committee that around 650 acres had initially been proposed after consultations between the ministry and the Commissioner’s Office.

After deliberations, the committee concluded that the proposed 300-acre allocation would not be adequate to cater to existing and future parking needs at Karachi Port. It recommended that adjoining land be reserved for future expansion and directed that the allotment process be expedited. The committee also urged the Revenue Department to treat the matter as a priority.

To further examine the issue, the committee constituted a sub-committee headed by Hassan Sabir, MNA, with Pullain Baloch and Romina Khurshid Alam, MNAs, as members. The panel will review the proposed additional land allocation as well as the Karachi Port Trust (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The committee also reviewed progress on traffic management around Karachi Port. The Inspector General, Traffic Police Sindh, informed members that all previous directives had been implemented. The committee subsequently recommended deploying 25 traffic police personnel around Pakistan House and the Karachi Port Trust to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, noting that KPT had offered to provide the required logistical and administrative support.

Members further directed that the National Highway Authority be invited to the committee’s next meeting to brief lawmakers on ongoing and planned road infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion in and around Karachi Port.

On the legislative front, the committee considered the Gwadar Port Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Port Qasim Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025. After incorporating minor amendments, it recommended both bills for passage by the National Assembly.

The committee also examined the Carriage Shipping Documents Bill, 2026, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2026, recommending that both pieces of legislation be passed in their existing form.

Earlier, the committee unanimously approved the minutes of its previous meeting and reviewed implementation reports on earlier recommendations.

Chairman of the Pakistan Ships Agents Association, Muhammad Rajpar, appreciated the ministry’s efforts, saying several longstanding issues facing the maritime and shipping sector had been resolved within a month under the current leadership. He also acknowledged the committee’s active role in addressing industry concerns.

The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs informed lawmakers that Pakistan’s ports had recorded a significant improvement in international rankings, attributing the progress to reforms and sustained efforts by the ministry and its affiliated organisations to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness.

The committee appreciated the performance of the ministry, port authorities, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC), and the Fisheries Department for their contribution towards strengthening Pakistan’s maritime sector.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026