Karachi: Rs11bn infrastructure to be developed at Port Qasim

[Naveed Yaseen]

KARACHI: Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has planned to develop infrastructure costing Rs11 billion by year 2011 to meet requirements of the investors, says Chairman PQA, Mir Afsar Din Talpur.

One hundred and nine industrial and commercial units are operative and 184 units more are at different stages of development at three industrial zones of Port Qasim Authority, located near the port. Among investors are national and international players in manufacturing, industrial processing and services, he said.

He was speaking at a seminar on “Role of Port Qasim Authority in Pakistan’s Economy” here, a PQA release issued on Thursday said. The seminar was organised by Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Pakistan. The PQA Chief informed that in financial year 2007-2008, 35th year of PQA history, the authority handled 26.42 million tonnes of cargo at its 10 heavy-duty berths, representing 41.57 per cent share of Pakistan’s total sea-borne trade. It earned gross revenue of Rs4.78 billion that exceeds the total capital cost of 8-berth 1st phase of the project.

This has added a new dimension to the economic skyline of Karachi, contributing substantially not only to the National Gross Product, but also to the generation of employment for the people of Karachi and the surrounding region. PQA has just completed its 35 years of existence end of June 2008.

He paid tribute to all those, whose efforts, hard work, support, commitment and resources have gone into making PQA what it is today. Thirty five years of PQA mark a long voyage with lot of ups and downs, and stormy spells. Yet, along the course, it turned out to be an exiting and rewarding success story of a leading public sector enterprise of Pakistan.

PQA Chairman said the authority created economic value in the form of Port Qasim infrastructure through the merger and integration of sand dunes of Pipri and shoreline. Thus, it emerged the commercial port as the 2nd gateway to the world markets in support of KPT for our imports and exports by sea. Through availability of port infrastructure at its doorstep, Pakistan Steel was able to start its production on time schedule, he said.

To further implement the mandate for an industrial port, PQA undertook the other phase of value-creation for the economy, by developing in parts, 12000 acres of land above high-water mark as zones for industrial, commercial and service units.

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