The foundation stone for the construction of state-of-the-art Pakistan’s first mechanized Coal, Clinker and Cement Terminal at Port Qasim on a 30-year Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis was laid here at PIBT Site located at North Western Industrial Zone of Port Qasim Authority here by PQA Chairman Vice Adm. (R) M.Shafi HI (M). While speaking as the chief guest on the occasion of unveiling the plaque, the chairman PQA operated the chain excavator to commence the first excavation activity for the construction of the Terminal. Chairman PQA assured the Project of PQA’s full support and timely facilitation. In the inaugural speech given by CEO PIBT, Sharique A Siddqui spotlighted the project salient features i.e., PIBT would be constructed as a state-of-the-art dirty bulk cargo handling facility at an estimated cost of approximately $186 million at Port Qasim on a 30 years Built Operate and Transfer basis. PIBT is in the process of developing a mangroves reforestation plan in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on 500 hectares nearby Port Qasim area, to improve the marine ecology and already depleting environmental conditions of the mangroves. The much-awaited project involves reclamation of 62 acres of land and construction of a 460 meter jetty and trestle bridge of 2.5 km. The Coal, Clinker and Cement terminal at Port Qasim will help alleviate the environmental concerns of the residents of Karachi when Coal handling will be shifted to Port Qasim which will reduce the pollution presently caused by Coal handling at Karachi port. Chairman Marine Group Capt. Haleem A. Siddiqui said the PIBT Project is in line with the vision of Marine Group of Companies to be the pioneering group of Pakistani entrepreneurs and professionals to set up modern cargo handling infrastructure in the ports in Pakistan to meet the growing demands of cargo handling in the country. The construction works for the Project has been awarded to a Turkish-Pakistani consortium of Siyahkalem-Maqbool (JV). Capt. Haleem Siddiqui thanked the chairman PQA and PQA officials for their support to the Project and congratulated them on securing private sector investment in this project.
