The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is an authority in Pakistan established in 1973, responsible for managing Port Qasim, which is the second busiest port in the country.
The Port Qasim Authority was formed through the Port Qasim Authority Act, 1973 (Act No. XLIII of 1973). This legislation outlines the creation and operations of the Port Qasim Authority, detailing its roles, authority, internal structure, and regulations concerning the management and navigation within maritime and inland waterway ports.[1][2]
In 2019, the cabinet has approved the delegation of authority to the Prime Minister for the appointment of the Port Qasim Authority's board of directors and oversight of board proceedings.[3]
The Port Qasim Authority demonstrated robust financial performance in the past few years. During the fiscal year 2020-2021, the Authority experienced significant revenue growth of 29%, resulting in a net profit of 19.76 billion rupees.
In 2018, the Port Qasim Authority entered into a significant Fuel Supply Agreement with Pakistan State Oil (PSO). This agreement outlined that PSO would fulfill all of PQA's fuel needs by providing Action Plus Diesel (HSD) and Altron Premium (PMG) for a period of three years.[4][5]
The Port Qasim Authority has engaged in various collaborations and partnerships to enhance its operations. In 2023, the authority has discussed different avenues of collaboration with the National Logistics Cell (NLC).[6]
In 2023, a disagreement arose between a party and the Pakistan Navy regarding a 3,009-acre land located in Mirpur Sakro, Thatta. The matter was taken to the Sindh High Court, which instructed for a clear delineation of the land to address the dispute.[7]
The Port Qasim Authority encountered difficulties regarding taxation, specifically regarding the general sales tax (GST) imposed by the Sindh government on the channel development cess (CDC) collected from vessels transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG). The Authority contemplated challenging this taxation issue.
