Pakistan’s Port Qasim ‘9th fastest-improving’ port worldwide

The Muhammad Bin Qasim Port in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, has been recognized by the World Bank as the ninth fastest-improving port worldwide.

The port secured a position in a list of 20 ports featured in the global ranking of port performance improvement. Port Qasim achieved a 35.2-point progress between 2020 and 2024, said a statement released by the port.

The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) 2024 is compiled by the World Bank in collaboration with S&P Global Market Intelligence and is regarded as a leading benchmark for assessing container port efficiency, turnaround times, and operational resilience.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, congratulated the port’s management and staff on this international recognition:

“This achievement is a matter of great pride for Pakistan. The inclusion of Muhammad Bin Qasim Port among the world’s top 20 improving ports is a reflection of our continuous efforts to modernize port operations, adopt global best practices, and enhance efficiency,” Junaid said.

He added the government was “committed to strengthening Pakistan’s maritime sector” and making it a “vital contributor to national and regional trade”.

The chairman of Port Qasim Authority, retired Admiral Moazzam Ilyas, said the acknowledgment was a “testament to the dedication and teamwork of the entire PQA workforce”.

“We will continue investing in innovation, digitalization, and infrastructure to further elevate our global standing.”

The minister also appreciated the management of DP World at the Qasim International Container Terminal, whose operations “have been at par with international standards”.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs has also allowed the port authority to undertake dredging of the channel to facilitate larger ship handling and thus enhance operational efficiency in the handling of Pakistani trade.

Port Qasim is located on Karachi's creek in the Indus delta region. The port started operation in 1980 and currently has 18 berths with an annual handling capacity of 89 million tons. It has the capacity to handle vessels carrying oil, edible oil, coal, grains, cement, fertlizer, general cargo and LNG.