Karachi, the only port city of Pakistan, serves as principal gateway to Pakistan. Almost all external trade is handled by its two major operating ports via Karachi Port and Port Qasim. It is the biggest metropolis of Pakistan and over the years, it has emerged as the industrial, financial and commercial capital of the country.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry was formed in 1959 through the amalgamation of four trade bodies in Karachi at that time, namely, the Pakistan Merchants Association, Buyers and Shipper Chamber of Commerce Pakistan and All Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was restructured under the Trade Organizations Ordinance 1961, which regulates the working of the Trade Bodies in the country. The Chamber is affiliated with the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry.

The Chamber has three classes of membership, namely Members, Town Association and Delegate Members and has around 15000 members both industrialists and traders. In addition to this, Industrial Town Associations are also affiliated with the Chamber.

The Chamber’s basis function is to protect and promote the interest of trade, commerce, and industry in Karachi and elsewhere. It strives hard to espouse the cause private enterprise and to redouble its contribution in the socio-economic development of the country.

Furthermore, the Chamber believes that without a developed and sophisticated social infrastructure, the country cannot achieve major breakthrough in socio-economic development. It is against this perspective that Chamber adopts various majors for the promotion of education and health services. The Chamber has successfully sponsored project of 200-bed hospital.

A Research & Economic Development Cell, well equipped with the facility of computers and Internet access, has also been in operation. It plays a proactive role by disseminating information, providing timely research inputs and carrying out research on vital issue confronting trade and industry. The R&ED Cell provides guidance to the members on issues related to trade and industry, formation of companies, import/export procedures, and taxation structure/procedures. It has published handbook on WTO, Guide for Exporters and Pakistan Investment Guide, for the benefit of exporters and investors. The Cell prepares and updates in-depth profiles of 197 countries, covering basic economic and fundamental data, economic overview, external trade, investment policies and their trade and economic relation with Pakistan. This proves handy for interaction with visiting dignitaries, organizing business delegations and for identifying economic opportunities and joint venture collaboration.