The geographic position of the port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.

It is also ideally located to offer gateway services to the maritime trade for the Central Asian Republics (CARs).

Several ancient ports have been attributed in the area including "Krokola", "Morontobara" (Woman's Harbour) (mentioned by Nearchus),[4] Barbarikon (the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea,[5] and Debal (a city captured by the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim in 712 CE).

Karachi is also mentioned in the sixteenth century Turkish treatise Mir'ât ül Memâlik by the Ottoman captain Seydi Ali Reis, who warns sailors about whirlpools and advises them to seek safety in "Kaurashi" harbour if they found themselves drifting dangerously.

From 1729 to 1783 the strategic location of Kolachi saw the town change hands several times between the Khans of Kalat and the rulers of Sind.

Karachi was an important military base during the First World War (1914–18) because it was the first British Raj port of call for ships coming through the Suez Canal and was the gateway to Afghanistan and the Russian Empire.

[8] Karachi Port comprises a deep natural harbour with an 11 kilometers long approach channel that provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 tonnes deadweight (DWT).

KGTL is a joint venture firm of AD Ports Group as a major investor and Kaheel Terminals.

Karachi Gateway Terminal plans on achieving a total handling capacity of 1 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent) with investments in machinery and infrastructure.

There are also plans to develop a turning basin in collaboration with Karachi Port Trust that would allow vessels of LOA (Length Over All) of about 350 meters.

[20][21] KGTML is a joint venture of AD Ports Group as a major shareholder and Kaheel Terminals, UAE.

[23] Since 2016, South Asia Pakistan Terminal (SAPT) operates the largest deep sea port of the country.

[27] The beach immediately east of the harbour was the scene of a significant oil spillage when the Greek-registered Tasman Spirit ran aground on 28 July 2003.

[28] The environmental impact included large numbers of dead fish and turtles and damage to a key mangrove forest, as well as dozens of people suffering nausea.

In October 2006, the Pakistan government decided to close down Karachi Dock Labour Board by the end of the year as part of its port strategy and under the National Trade Corridor (NTC) programme.