The Port of Karachi is one of South Asia's largest and busiest deep-water seaports, handling about 60% of the nation's cargo (25 million tons per annum).
The port comprises a deep natural harbour with an 11 kilometre long approach channel which provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 tons deadweight.
It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the main business district and several industrial areas.
The two wharves extend in opposite directions; the East Wharf northeast from Kiamari Island and the West Wharf southwest from Saddar town.
The main areas of port activity are two wharves; East Wharf with seventeen vessel berths and West Wharf with thirteen vessel berths.
The maximum depth alongside the berths is currently 11.3 metres.
The geographic position of the port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The administration of the port is carried out by the Karachi Port Trust, which was established in the nineteenth century.