Posted on April 13, 2026
ISLAMABAD: In a strategic masterstroke amid escalating global maritime chaos, Pakistan has launched the conversion of Karachi Port into a full-fledged deep sea facility, positioning the country as a vital alternative trade hub.
The move comes as ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including Houthi disruptions and tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, have severely hampered operations at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port, forcing shipping lines to reroute cargo.
Regional media reports, including those from Dawn and local port authorities, confirm the project’s acceleration, with work already underway to capitalize on the crisis.
Karachi Port Trust welcomed the arrival of the specialized Dutch trailing suction hopper dredger Rotterdam from Van Oord on March 14, 2026, marking a historic milestone.
For the first time in Karachi’s history, four major dredgers — Rotterdam, Athena, Abul, and Indus Dolphin — are operating simultaneously under National Dredging and Marine Services.
The intensive four-month program targets deepening the upper and lower harbour channels to 14 metres while raising 14 berths to 15.5 metres.
Upon completion, the port will accommodate vessels up to 350 metres in length with a gross registered tonnage of 100,000, aligning closely with demands for larger Panamax and Post-Panamax ships.
This upgrade directly addresses previous limitations where maximum berth depths stood at around 11.3 metres, restricting cargo handling efficiency.
Official data reveals Karachi Port handled a record 54 million tons of cargo in fiscal year 2025, reflecting a 4.45 per cent growth and 2.65 million TEUs in containers.
Transshipment volumes have surged dramatically, with 8,860 containers processed in just 24 days of March 2026 compared to the entire previous year’s 8,300.
