Work on Water Container Terminal to start in April

[LahoreEstate]

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
KARACHI: Federal Ports and Shipping Minister, Babar Ghauri has said that his ministry is working on reducing the port charges so that our importers, exporters and port users are mainly benefitted.

He stated this while talking to journalists after a visit to berths 10 to 14 at East Wharf, on Tuesday, which had collapsed during 2007 heavy rains and are now being reconstructed. He was accompanied by Chairperson KPT, Nasrin Haque and other officials.

He said the berths are being reconstructed at a cost of Rs5.5 billion out of which $15 million have been provided by the World Bank. Ghauri said after completion of the work, port will move into the second phase during which additional berths from 15 to 17 will be constructed.

He informed that efforts are in hand for modernisation of Karachi Port, Port Qasim and Gwadar Port and to bring them at par with the world’s best ports. The minister told newsmen about the Deep Water Container Terminal with a draft of 18 meters, which is going to be constructed at Karachi Port and said work will hopefully commence next month with ceremony to be performed by prime minister.

He said work was to start in March but due to prevailing situation, its ceremony will now be held in April. Referring to berths he visited, Ghauri pointed out that these were the very berths which had collapsed in 2007 due to heavy showers and soon work on their reconstruction was taken up through a Korean company.

He said the berths have further been deepened and it’s along side will be 16 metres deep as against the previous 12.5 metres which will facilitate the big ships to sail in future. He said the company has been given March 2010 as the completion year.

He said that problem being faced is the debris of last two berths which had collapsed, is lying underneath and technical problems are being faced to remove that. For this purpose various contractors have been contacted so that the pace of work is expedited.

Replying to a question, Ghauri said that every berth has an age limit and, therefore, wherever and whenever required, these will continue to be reconstructed.

To another question federal minister said that Task Force setup for the development of PNSC has recommended induction of 10 new ships into its fleet. He said efforts are being made to resolve the funding problem and in this regard various institutions are being approached.

He said induction of new ships would help enhance trade volume for the corporation. —APP

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