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Karachi Port Set for Major Dredging to Boost Capacity
A major dredging agreement has been signed between Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited (KGTL), part of AD Ports Group, and Netherlands-based dredging and marine contracting specialist Van Oord. The large-scale project will deepen berths and navigational channels at KGTL, enabling the terminal to handle vessels ranging from 305 m to 350 m in length with drafts ranging from 13 m to 15.5 m. Once completed, the expansion will boost container handling capacity at KGTL from 750,000 TEU to 1 million TEU annually.
At the neighbouring Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), which focuses on general and bulk cargo operations, dredging will double bulk vessel capacity from 60,000 tonnes to 120,000 tonnes.
The dredging programme is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2026 and represents a significant milestone in the modernisation of Karachi Port.
AD Ports Group entered the Pakistani market in 2023 through long-term concessions to operate both container and bulk cargo berths at Karachi Port. As part of its ongoing investment, the Group has committed nearly AED 1.1 billion (USD 300 million) to upgrading port infrastructure, enhancing digital systems and supporting trade growth while driving economic diversification.
According to Khurram Aziz Khan, Chief Executive Officer of KGTL and KGTML, “The dredging project will enable us to accommodate larger and deeper draft vessels at both our container and bulk terminals. This will directly benefit our customers, optimising the use of foreign exchange spent on freight and reducing overall logistics costs.”
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