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Fish Harbour
cum-Mini Port
The communities living along
the coastal areas of the country are among the most deprived ones. To
help them properly share economic benefits with the rest of the country
the Government decided to develop a Fish Harbour-cum-Mini Port at Keti
Bunder. This Mini Port which will be developed in first phase at an
estimated cost of Rs. 1 billion, will provide employment opportunities
to the people of the coastal areas of Sindh. The pre-feasibility study
has been completed by a local firm M/s. Techno Consultants in
association with NESPAK at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.9 million. The
study has been forwarded to the Governments of Japan and South Korea for
financing this Project. Their initial interest is very encouraging.
Gwadar Port
The Government set up a
Committee to formulate recommendations for the development of a new
deep-sea port on the coastal areas of Balochistan. The project on a
deep-sea water port at Gwadar envisages investment of US $ 700 to 800
million. The Government has as part of this project planned construction
of coastal road from Karachi to Gwadar linking up vast areas of
Balochistan.
Karachi Port
Karachi Port is the hub of
Pakistan's entire economic activities as 98 per cent of the entire
foreign trade is conducted through this port. As such Karachi Port is
being modernized at a total cost of Rs. 5 billion including World Bank
loan of US $ 91.4 million. The Government has increased emphasis on an
early completion of the entire scheme. As a result the following
projects have already become functional:-
(i) OP-V:- OP-V has been
constructed at a cost of Rs. 510 million with an annual handling
capacity of 6 to 8 million tons liquid cargo. The project has been in
operation since April, 1994.
(ii) Circular Road:- To
solve the problem of traffic congestion around Port area and central
city areas of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Government has given
go ahead signal for construction of a Circular Road comprising Southern
By-pass, Jinnah Bridge (Phase-II) and Northern By-pass at an estimated
cost of Rs. 1353 million. The first phase of the project has been
completed in December, 1997.
(iii)
Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Berths No.5-10:- To enable Karachi Port
to handle increasing volume of cargo, the Government has directed to
reconstruct/rehabilitate the Berths No. 5-10 at an estimated cost of US
$ 60 million within the next 2 years.
(iv) Container Terminals.-
In order to modernize cargo handling at Karachi Port, the Government has
directed KPT to set up another Container Terminal at West Wharf (Berths
NO.22-24) through private sector at an estimated cost of US $ 75
million.
Port Qasim
Port Qasim is the second
most important deep-sea port for handling Pakistan's foreign trade. It
needs a great deal of improvement to reduce pressure on the Karachi
Port. It has been especially designed to handle bulk cargo so far.
Following projects are in hand to provide better facilities at the
Port:-
(i) Oil Terminal: To meet
the higher import volume of crude oil for meeting the requirement of
energy sector in the country the Government authorized M/s. Fauji Oil
Terminal and Distribution co. (FOTCO), to setup an Oil Terminal at Port
Qasim with handling capacity of 9 million. The project will be completed
by the end of December, 1994.
(ii) Container Terminal: A
reputed foreign firm is at an advanced stage of negotiation for setting
up a most modern Container Terminal at Port Qasim with an investment of
US $ 75 million. The proposed project will be commissioned within next
18 months.
Revitalization of Shipping
Sector
Out of total annual trade of
30 million tons, which is growing at 10 per cent per annum, only 7 per
cent cargo is transported by National ships. The Government has decided
to upgrade the national fleet which was old and largely unserviceable.
The Government has allocated US $ 100 million for the acquisition of
eight modern ships in two phases to PNSC. NTC has also been authorized
to acquire a Crude Oil Tanker at a cost of US $ 32 million. With this
single measure the maritime sector has been given a shot in the arm. It
will henceforth handle as much as 25 per cent cargo by the year 1996.
Some facilities have been given to private sector companies to help them
purchase more ships.
Shipping Sector
The shipping sector in
Pakistan is in its infancy at the present moment. With no sufficient
amount of capital invested into the shipping sector, the entire fleet of
the nation is left to only 24 ships, 17 of which are held by Pakistan
National Shipping Corporation. The rest are owned by Tri-Star Shipping
Corporation and a few other shipping lines.
The country has two major
seaports viz. Karachi and Bin Qasim. Besides, Gwadar Fish Harbour cum
Mini Port has been substantially completed. Feasibility Study to develop
Keti Bunder as a Fish Harbour cum Mini Port is currently under process.
All the ports and the
shipping lines are not sufficient to meet the growing demands of
Pakistan and other countries and regions that these countries cater to.
Regions include Kashmir, Western China, Afghanistan and Central Asian
Republics like Kazakhstan, Uzbeksitan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
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