Port Qasim
The Port Muhammad Bin Qasim (Urdu: محمد بن قاسم بندرگاہ Bandar-gāh Muhammad bin Qāsim), or Qasim Port Authority (Urdu: مقتدرہ قاسم بندرگاہ), also known as Port Qasim, is a deep-water seaport in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, on the coastline of the Arabian Sea under the administrative control of the Secretary to the Government of Pakistan for Maritime Affairs. It is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). Port Qasim and Karachi Port, the busiest port of the country, together handle almost 90% of all external trade of Pakistan. The remaining maritime trade is routed through Gwadar Port.
| Port Muhammad Bin Qasim | |
|---|---|
Port Qasim | |
Click on the map for a fullscreen view | |
| Location | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Location | Karachi-75020, Sindh |
| Coordinates | 24°46′N 67°20′E |
| UN/LOCODE | PKBQM |
| Details | |
| Opened | September 1980 |
| Operated by | Port Qasim Authority |
| Owned by | Ministry of Ports and Shipping and Government of Pakistan |
| Type of harbour | Artificial |
| Land area | 12,200 acres |
| No. of berths | 15 |
| Employees | 2,000 (1,576 Staff and 279 Officers) |
| Chairman | Rear Admiral (R) Syed Hasan Nasir Shah, HI(M) |
| Statistics | |
| Vessel arrivals | 1709 (FY 2020-21) |
| Annual cargo tonnage | 58 million metric revenue tons including 21.62 million MT of dry cargo and 19.968 million MT of liquid cargo (FY 2020-21) |
| Annual container volume | 1,258,000 [TEU]s with tonnage of 16.405 million MT (FY 2020-21) |
| Tidal Variation | 0.5 to 3.5m (at channel mouth and port) |
| Deadweight Tonnage | 75,000 DWT |
| Ranking | 121st busiest container port (TEU Container Traffic) in 2007 |
| Website www.pqa.gov.pk | |
The port encompasses a total area of 12,000 acres (49 km2) wherein many industrial zones operate. In addition to the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and KESC Bin Qasim Power Plant, around 80% of the Pakistan's automotive industry is located at Port Qasim. The port also provides direct waterfront access to two major nearby industrial areas, Export Processing Zone (Landhi) and Korangi Industrial Area. Approximately 60% of country's export and import is originated from these areas. Port Qasim is managed by Port Qasim Authority, a semi-autonomous government body.