Islamabad: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Thursday directed port authorities to finalize and implement a comprehensive 30-day plan aimed at shifting, auctioning, and disposing of stuck-up containers and surplus materials to ease congestion and enhance operational efficiency at port terminals. According to Press Information Department, the directive was issued during a sub-committee review meeting focused on the relocation of stuck-up containers and auctionable cargo. The minister instructed relevant authorities to transfer these items from on-dock areas to designated off-dock facilities within the specified timeframe, emphasizing that port operations must remain seamless to ensure that domestic trade is not disrupted by transshipment cargo or stuck-up containers.
The rising volume of transshipment cargo, attributed to improved port performance and regional dynamics, has necessitated the development of a clear mechanism for shifting it to off-dock terminals on defined commercial terms. Authorities have been tasked with maintaining an updated list of off-dock facilities and transshipment cargo records. “Pakistan must seize emerging regional opportunities by adopting a forward-looking framework to sustain and expand our ports’ potential,” the minister stated.
Officials reported that stuck-up containers and surplus materials could be relocated to sites such as Sky Media Terminal, Al-Hamd Terminal, Northern Bypass, and other off-dock facilities. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) will allow shipping companies to remove and destroy abandoned containers per regulations. Junaid Chaudhry requested the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to obtain detailed shifting plans from terminal operators and share them with the sub-committee and customs by the end of the week.
Discussions in the meeting also covered plans for customs to facilitate the auction of stuck-up containers within one month, while terminal operators will dispose of surplus items like wooden pallets and unused equipment in the same period. Rationalized reserve prices for mixed lots are expected to accelerate auctions. Federal Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry expressed confidence that these coordinated steps will significantly reduce congestion, support trade, and enhance maritime logistics efficiency.