Prime Minister of Pakistan Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Friday inaugurated KPT’s three berths 11, 12 & 13 completed by the Korean contractor Ssang Yong and handed over to Karachi Port Trust.
Reconstruction of berths: The first phase comprising of the reconstruction of berths at a cost Rs5.5 billion started in 2008. The ceremony was attended amongst others by Governor Sindh, Chief Minister, Secretary Ports and Shipping and dignitaries from the Ports and Shipping Sector. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani highlighted the pivotal rate of shipping in Pakistan’s economy and said that the approaching trend of globalization demands keeping abreast with modern standards in all spheres of production and transportation of goods. He emphasized further improvement in productivity and services in terms of quality and economy. He said that transportation industry faces great challenges from various directions expanding the port services in order to facilitate more and bigger ships at the port. Referring to the rain disaster affecting Sindh, the Prime Minister called the nation to come forward to help the flood affectees. He mentioned that Karachi Port can play a crucial role to receive aid sent by international donors and overseas Pakistanis and announced that he has authorised a special waiver in demurrage to enable the ports to clear the goods received as aid for the flood victims.
Importance of ports: The Prime Minister complimented the KPT on induction of state of the art powerful tugs acquired from our brotherly nation Turkey that he said will help foster mutual relations. He was also encouraged to witness the induction of two pusher tugs and a dredge tender being built by the Karachi Shipyard for KPT and said that such construction reflects the potency of our indigenous development capabilities which his government has always promoted. Earlier, the Secretary, Ports and Shipping, highlighted the importance of ports in Pakistan by saying that 97 per cent of trade takes place through sea. He said that on the instructions of the Prime Minister, 30 per cent port charges were reduced to make Pakistani ports compatible with the regional ones. Furthermore, the construction of Deep Water Container Port was under way at the cost of $1.6 billion on BOT basis in collaboration with Hutchison Port Holding and will be operational in March next year, the Secretary said. The Secretary said that at present, KPT was currently reconstructing its Berths no 10 to 17 A in the East Wharf with an estimated cost of Rs.5.5 billion. Out of the 5 under construction Berths, the first three Berths, 11, 12, and 13, have been completed the inauguration of which
has taken place today.
Construction of new terminals: The Secretary also projected the importance of the Port Qasim, which had been providing modern facilities in the shipping field and which had attracted an investment of $900 million under Landlord Concept. The Secretary stated that 4 new terminals were expected to be completed by 2014 on BOT basis entailing investment of $500 million. The Secretary emphasized the role of the port in the growth of industrial estates around the port that would have direct bearings not only on the economy of the metropolis but also of the whole country. He said that the Deep Water Port of Gawader had immense potential of becoming the shipping hub by providing an alternative to Gulf Ports and also a vital connectivity to China and the Central Asian Republics. The Secretary of Ministry of Ports and Shipping said that KPT and PNSC were public sector organizations, which were earning profits and contributed huge amounts of taxes to the exchequer. On this occasion, the Chairman of the KPT presented a cheque of Rs10 million to the Prime Minister forthe Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund.
Gilani inaugurates KPT berths
