3.1. Study Area

Pakistan, located in the center of the Indian Ocean, is a renowned coastal region that handles over 95% of its trade through its seaports, including Karachi, Qasim, and Gwadar [50]. Muhammad Bin Qasim Port (MBQP) is also known as Port Qasim. It is Pakistan’s second busiest and deepest seaport. It is located 28 miles southeast of Karachi, in the Indus delta region. It has a 49-km-long navigational channel. This port can accommodate ships with a depth of 13 m and a length of 347 m [50]. It consists of a total of 17 terminals, categorized into import terminals, export terminals, and import/export terminals. At the MBQP, cargo handling is performed by the private sector. Cargo Handling Companies (CHCs) at the marginal wharf are equipped with forklifts, cranes, hoppers, and evacuators for the handling of general and bulk cargoes. MBQP is well-connected to the transportation infrastructure of the country. A 14-km-long railway line and specialized train station connect the port to the national rail network [51]. According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs Pakistan yearbook 2019–2020, MBQP achieved a throughput of over 51.017 million tons which is 4% more than in 2018–2019. During the year 2018–2019, the Pakistan Seaborne Trade stood at 92.818 million tons, out of which MBQP handled 51.017 million tons of cargo, which is represented by around 55% of MBQA’s share [52,53]. The volume of imported cargo during July–June 2019–2020 stood at 43.509 million tons, against the 41.878 million tons handled during the corresponding period 2018–2019, showing an increase of 3.89%. The exported cargo handled was 7.508 million tons during the twelve months of the financial year 2019–2020, as compared to 7.152 million tons handled during the corresponding period 2018–2019, showing an increase of 4.96% [52,53]. The study area of MBQP is depicted in Figure 1.

Study area, Muhammad Bin Qasim Port, Pakistan.