Karachi Port Trust

Karachi Port Trust
کراچی پورٹ ٹرسٹ‬
KPT
The logo of the Karachi Port Trust.

Administrative offices at the Karachi Port Trust Building
Federal Government Agency of Seaports overview
Formed 1887
Headquarters Karachi
Federal Government Agency of Seaports executive
Website http://kpt.gov.pk/
Rear end view

Karachi Port Trust (Urdu: کراچی پورٹ ٹرسٹ‬‎) (KPT) is a Pakistani federal government agency that oversees the operations of the Port of Karachi in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Between 1880 and 1887, the port was administered by the Karachi Harbour Board. The Karachi Port Trust was then established by the Act IV of 1886, effective from 1 April 1887.[1] The agency is headquartered at the colonial-era Karachi Port Trust Building from 1916.

Brief History of the KPT

Karachi due to its geographical and strategic location is known as the gateway to Asia. By 1852, Karachi was an established city with a population of about 14,000 with a prosperous trade in over-seas markets. However, the existing Port started taking shape in 1854, when the projects of dredging the main navigable channel and the construction of a mole or causeway joining the main harbor with the rest of the city were undertaken. About 5 years later, construction of Manora Breakwater, Keamari Groyne, the Napier Mole Bridge, Native Jetty and the Chinna Creek were started which gave initial shape to the port.

The construction of the wharves started in 1882, and by 1914 the East Wharves and the Napier Mole Boat Wharf had been completed. During the period between 1927 and 1944, the West Wharves of the Port, the lighterage berths and the ship-repairing berths were constructed. Most of these facilities were obsolete by the time Pakistan came into existence in 1947. Since then, the port administration has embarked on extensive development of the port on modern lines. At the time of independence in 1947, the Port capacity was about 1.5 million tons of dry cargo and 1.0 million tons of P.O.L. products per annum. Karachi Port is now handling over 11.74 million tons of liquid cargo and 25.45 million tons of dry cargo, including 1,213,744 TEUs which constitute about 60% of import/ export of the country.

KPT Profile

The Karachi Port is administered by a Board of Trustees, comprising Chairperson and 10 Trustees. The Chairperson is appointed by the Federal Government and is also the Chief Executive of Karachi Port Trust. The KPT Chairman is either a senior Central Superior Services officer or an admiral from Pakistan Navy. The remaining 10 Trustees are equally distributed between the public and the private sector. The Vice Chairman of the Board is Chairman Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC). The Chairman PNSC holds this position ex offico. Another notable member of the Board is Commander Karachi (COMKAR) of Pakistan Navy. The COMKAR is also a member of the Board ex offico.

The five public sector trustees are nominated by the Federal Government. The seats for private sector trustees are filled by elected representatives of various private sector organisations. This way all port users find a representation in the Board of Trustees.

Chairman

The Chairman is Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar HI(M) T.Bt.[2]

Chairman KPT Admiral Jamil Akhtar (first from left)

See also

References

  1. ↑ Behram Sohrab H.J. Rustomji, Karachi 1839-1947 A Short History of the Foundation and Growth of Karachi in Karachi During the British Era Two Histories of A Modern City, Oxford University Press, Karachi, 2007 Pg 52
  2. ↑ http://kpt.gov.pk/pages/Default.aspx?id=166
  • A Short History of Karachi Port, M. Adeel Qureshi, Education Officer, KPT

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