KPT handles 5.28% more cargo during last six months

Karachi Port handled record cargo volume at 27.198 million tons during last six months (July-December) of the current financial year against 25.83 million tons of the same period in 2016-17; showing a comparative growth of 5.28 percent.

Similarly, the containers handling increased to 1.107 million TEUs (containers) over last six months, whereas 0.967 million TEUs were handled last year in the corresponding period, said KPT press release here on Thursday.

The breakup showed that exports cargo handling for last six months was 5.525 million tons and during the same corresponding period it stood at 4.810 million tons --showing increase of 14.86 percent.

Similarly, the imports cargo handling over last six months closed at 21.673 million tons which remained at 21.024 million tons for the corresponding period of last year.

It is a remarkable achievement of the port and reflects the export-oriented policies of government. The imports handling has also gained momentum compared to last year with increase of 3.09 percent.

The ships movement has also remained brisk at the port. A total of 1066 vessels have been handled during the last six months. In the corresponding period of last year, it remained at 957 vessels.

According to details, KPT has handled 484 container vessels, 125 bulk cargo vessels, 172 general cargo vessels and 285 oil tankers in last six months. During the same period of last year, it remained at 367 container vessels, 122 bulk cargo vessels, 188 general cargo vessels and 280 oil tankers.

The credit for this growth in cargo handling went Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo and KPT management and workers, it said.