Poor conditions of roads leading to wharves affecting trade

KARACHI: The extremely poor and deteriorated condition of the roads leading to East Wharf and West Wharf at Karachi Port continues to severely affect Pakistan’s import and export activities.

President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Atif Ikram Sheikh drew the attention of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed to this issue through separate letters.

However, despite these efforts, the condition of the roads connecting East Wharf and West Wharf has not improved.

According to sources, following the directives of the Chief Minister of Sindh, Section Officer VII, Dhani Bux Bhutto, issued a letter to Karachi Mayor Syed Murtaza Wahab, instructing him to immediately address the deteriorated condition of the roads leading to East Wharf and West Wharf.

The letter further directed that implementation of the Chief Minister’s instructions be ensured in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and policies, and that progress be updated on the Chief Minister’s portal.

However, despite the passage of four months, the Mayor of Karachi had failed to act on the Chief Minister’s directives, and the roads leading to East Wharf and West Wharf remain in poor condition.

Meanwhile, Tariq Haleem, Chairman of the FPCCI Advisory Council for the Maritime Sector, also expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the roads leading to the East Wharf and West Wharf.

He emphasized that there should be free movement to and from the port so that import and export activities could continue smoothly, and commercial operations were not adversely affected.

In his letters to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, Atif Ikram Sheikh stated that the Karachi Port handled a major portion of the country’s maritime trade, including containerized cargo, bulk commodities, petroleum products, and industrial raw materials.

He regretted that the road infrastructure connecting the East Wharf and West Wharf terminals had been severely damaged due to continuous movement of heavy vehicles, a substantial increase in container traffic, lack of timely maintenance and rehabilitation, and outdated road designs that were no longer suitable for current trade requirements and cargo volumes.

He further pointed out that excessive dust, mud, filth, solid waste, stones, and debris on these roads — particularly in the area from beneath the Jinnah Flyover to the West Wharf Road —had worsened the situation.

Poor traffic management, illegal parking, encroachments, and the lack of effective administrative measures had also become serious concerns, severely disrupting the movement of cargo and passengers.

He stated that these problems were not only disrupting port operations but also adversely affecting national trade, government revenues, and Karachi’s vital economic role.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026