Karachi: A fire broke out at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) on Monday afternoon, triggering an immediate response from port authorities and emergency services, officials confirmed.
According to details, the fire suddenly erupted in a container located within the terminal premises. Upon receiving the alert, a fire brigade team from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) rushed to the site and launched a rescue and firefighting operation.
Emergency responders managed to bring the blaze under control within a short period, preventing it from spreading to adjacent containers. Authorities confirmed that no loss of life was reported in the incident.
Investigation Underway
While the exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined, terminal officials have launched a preliminary investigation to ascertain whether the contents of the container contributed to the ignition. Sources suggest that the container may have contained general cargo, though a detailed inventory is being verified.
Second Incident in Weeks
This incident marks the second fire at the KICT in under a month. On February 16, 2026, a massive blaze engulfed a pile of containers at the same terminal. That fire, which reportedly involved containers holding chemicals, electronics, cloth, and lithium batteries, required a large-scale coordinated effort to bring under control.
During the February incident, KPT Chairman had praised the coordination between the KPT fire brigade, Pakistan Navy, Rescue 1122, and Karachi Shipyard. He had also sought a detailed report to prevent future occurrences.
Monday’s fire, though smaller in scale, raises fresh questions about safety protocols at one of the country’s busiest cargo handling facilities.
