QICT
Container Terminal
Qasim International Container Terminal has run since 1997 under DP World and is Port Qasim's dedicated container facility. Here's what to expect clearing cargo through it, and how Maalbardaar handles it end to end.
About QICT
Qasim International Container Terminal has operated since 1997, when its first terminal began running on what had originally been three multipurpose berths at Port Qasim, converted down to two dedicated container berths. It is run by DP World — one of the largest port operators in the world, with terminals across dozens of countries — holding a 75% stake alongside a 25% holding from International Terminal Holding Limited, a Pakistan-based partner.
The terminal grew substantially in January 2011 with the commercial start of Terminal 2, which added further quay length and five additional ship-to-shore gantry cranes. Combined, the two terminals now run with 11 gantry cranes, 45 rubber-tyred gantries, 7 reach stackers, 3 empty container handlers and 82 internal tractor-trailers, giving a published combined design capacity of around 1.4 million TEU per year — making QICT one of the largest single container operations in the Karachi/Port Qasim system.
QICT is also unusually well set up for anyone checking on cargo directly: DP World runs a dedicated tracking site for the terminal, dpworldkarachi.com, and supplements it with an SMS-based tracking option — send a container number by text and get a status back, no login required.
QICT: what to check before you ship
It is at Port Qasim, not Karachi Port. If your booking names QICT, your cargo is heading to Bin Qasim, roughly 35 kilometres from central Karachi — not to any of the terminals inside Karachi Port itself. Plan inland transport distances accordingly.
Two terminals operate as one. QICT’s Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 have different commissioning dates, different berth counts and slightly different draft depths, but function as a single combined operation for booking and tracking purposes. You don’t generally need to specify which terminal within QICT your cargo will use.
Tracking is genuinely easier here than at some neighbouring facilities. DP World’s dedicated tracking site and SMS option mean you can check status directly without relying solely on your carrier’s own system — worth using if you want a quick independent check.
Quay length figures differ slightly by source. Port Qasim Authority’s own published figure for Terminal 1’s quay length differs modestly from DP World’s, most likely reflecting different measurement points rather than a real discrepancy — treat published lengths as approximate.
Clearing and forwarding cargo through QICT
Customs clearance
Our licensed clearing agents file your Goods Declaration through WeBOC and Pakistan Single Window for cargo moving through QICT, with HS code classification handled up front to reduce assessment delays and demurrage risk.
Customs clearance services arrow_forwardFreight forwarding
Whether your shipment is arriving by sea or air, we coordinate the booking, inland pickup and CFS/CY delivery so cargo destined for QICT lands where it needs to be — and moves on schedule once it clears.
Freight forwarding services arrow_forwardQICT questions
Who operates QICT?
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DP World, holding a 75% stake, alongside International Terminal Holding Limited, a Pakistan-based partner holding the remaining 25%. DP World is one of the largest port operators in the world, active across dozens of countries.
How many terminals does QICT have?
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Two, run as a single combined operation. Terminal 1 began operating in 1997 with two berths, converted from what were originally three multipurpose berths. Terminal 2 started commercial operation in January 2011, adding further quay length and five of its own gantry cranes.
What is QICT's container capacity?
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Around 1.4 million TEU per year combined across both terminals, per DP World's own published figure — one of the larger container capacities among Karachi-area facilities.
Does QICT offer container tracking?
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Yes, and more directly than most terminals in the area. DP World runs a dedicated tracking site at dpworldkarachi.com, and also offers SMS-based tracking by texting a container number to a published number.
Is QICT at Karachi Port or Port Qasim?
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Port Qasim, roughly 35 kilometres east of Karachi Port. It is the primary dedicated container terminal at Port Qasim, distinct from the container terminals operating at Karachi Port such as KICT, KGTL and SAPT.
Does Maalbardaar clear customs for shipments at QICT?
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Yes. Our licensed clearing agents file Goods Declarations through WeBOC and Pakistan Single Window for cargo discharged at QICT, and we coordinate freight forwarding for cargo destined there as part of the same booking.
Shipping through QICT?
Get a quote for customs clearance and freight forwarding through this facility, handled by a licensed local team.
Shipping through somewhere other than QICT?
Operators
Maalbardaar provides customs clearance and freight forwarding services for cargo moving through QICT. We are not affiliated with DP World (75%) and International Terminal Holding Limited (25%) or with the operator or authority of this facility, and this page is independent, informational content rather than an official listing. For official information, visit QICT's own website . Facility data sources: DP World's own page for its Qasim terminal (dpworld.com/en/ports-terminals/pakistan/qasim), which states the operator split, equipment counts and combined design capacity directly, plus DP World's dedicated tracking site (dpworldkarachi.com) and an SMS tracking number. Terminal 1's 1997 start date and Terminal 2's January 2011 commercial start are consistent across DP World and independent reporting. Exact quay length for Terminal 1 varies slightly between Port Qasim Authority's figure and DP World's own — described as an approximate range rather than a single number.