Ship building yards at Karachi and Gwadar: Gilani forms body to finalise sites

[Naveed Yaseen]

PM constitutes committee to finalise sites for shipyards



Wednesday, October 01, 2008
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani while expressing government’s resolve for the development of the shipbuilding industry in Pakistan said that the setting up of two shipyards in Karachi and Gwadar would go a long way in catering to domestic as well as international needs.

The prime minister observed this while chairing a meeting to review the progress on the development of the shipbuilding industry in the country here at the Prime Minister House, Tuesday afternoon. The prime minister constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Minister for Ports and Shipping Qamar Zaman Kaira to finalise the sites for building shipyards at Karachi and Gwadar.

The committee will submit its report before the policy board within two weeks for final approval. Other members of the committee include Secretary Ports and Shipping, Secretary Defence Production, MD Karachi Shipyards, Chairman Port Qasim Authority and Chairman Gwadar Port Authority.

The prime minister emphasised upon the need to make Pakistan a leading shipbuilding country of the region, thus contributing towards economic development and poverty alleviation. While highlighting Pakistan’s unique geo-strategic location and trained manpower, the prime minister said that this advantage needs to be leveraged to enter into the shipbuilding industry in a big way through joint ventures with reputable international shipyards.

He said shipyards not only generate employment opportunities but also develop a wide range of ancillary industries.

Earlier, MD Karachi Shipyards briefed the prime minister about the progress made on the development of shipbuilding.

He also apprised the prime minister that two world class shipyards on joint venture basis are proposed to be built at Gwadar and Port Qasim.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=138862