Islamabad (GNP): Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has handled two foreign bulk carriers at the same time, carrying a combined 101,000 tonnes of diammonium phosphate (DAP) fertiliser and wheat, according to Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
Chaudhry commended KPT’s engineers, port operators, pilots, terminal operator, dockworkers and transporters for managing the two ships and keeping cargo discharge on track. Timely handling of essential imports, he said, matters for agricultural production and food security.
MV ZHONG CHANG 538 and MV GOKOVA M were berthed at Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose (KGTML). The first carried 50,000 tonnes of DAP and the second 51,000 tonnes of wheat.
According to KPT operational data, MV ZHONG CHANG 538 was at Berth 10/11. Of its 50,000 tonnes, 48,525 had been unloaded, so discharge was nearly complete. It discharged 5,481 tonnes in the previous 24 hours.
MV GOKOVA M was at Berth 16/17, where more than 7,200 tonnes of its wheat cargo had been unloaded and discharge was continuing.
Chaudhry said handling both vessels together showed KPT’s operational capacity and its efforts to improve berth utilisation, cargo-handling efficiency and supply chain performance. The Ministry of Maritime Affairs, he added, is pursuing reforms to cut vessel turnaround times, improve port management and strengthen maritime infrastructure, so that trade is facilitated and essential commodities keep flowing. Efficient port operations and streamlined logistics, he said, are essential for moving critical goods on time and strengthening supply chains.
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KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed said Karachi Port plays a vital role in the country’s trade and supply chains, especially in importing agricultural inputs and essential food items. The two vessels were given priority berthing on government directives. The port authority, he said, is committed to modernising infrastructure, improving efficiency and expanding cargo-handling capacity to support trade and economic activity.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
