A major fire erupted on January 16, 2026 at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) located within Karachi Port, engulfing approximately 20 shipping containers and disrupting port operations. The blaze began in a stack of containers inside the terminal, with preliminary indications suggesting that it may have originated from chemical goods. Other affected containers reportedly held electronics, textiles, and lithium batteries.
Rescue 1122 teams responded swiftly, and firefighting efforts were initially supported by 13 fire tenders. As the fire intensified, the number of vehicles deployed increased to 20. Port security and emergency personnel worked continuously at the scene.
Due to the incident, handling operations for two ships were temporarily suspended and other port activities faced partial disruption. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry directed authorities to use all available resources to suppress the fire. The chairman of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and relevant officials were ordered to the site, where over 80 percent of the fire was brought under control, according to officials. No casualties have been reported. A detailed investigation into the cause of the fire has been requested.