Port Qasim attains all round growth, box trade up 73%

Karachi: The growth trajectory at Port Qasim was recorded at 36 percent during February and March. It has been able to sustain the growth over the years and its performance during the present government had been remarkable, according to the report available here on Wednesday.


Cargo handling increased by more than 32 percent and stood at more than 41 million tonnes during March 4 to February 6, compared with figures of corresponding period 2005 of 31 million tonnes.


Ship-handling also increased by 36 percent during the same period. By way of prudent and judicious policies and user-friendly approach, containerised cargo trade registered a phenomenal growth of 73 percent at the port during the period under review. Import of chemicals stood at 1.76 million tonnes during this period as compared to 1.03 million tonnes showing an increase of more than 71 percent.


To facilitate the trade, the PQA has actively been pursuing a three-pronged strategy ie cost effective services, expansion in port facilities and infrastructure, and increased port efficiencies to international standards. During 2005, the PQA reduced wet charges by more than 15 percent to facilitate the trade.


Responding to the situation, the port also initiated a number of development projects to increase handling capacity at the port that include, LPG terminal, liquid cargo terminal, grain and fertiliser terminal, cement and clinker terminal, second container terminal and oil jetty. Al-Twarqui Steel Mills, to be inaugurated soon, are also being provided facilities at the IOCB for its raw material.


Box trade up by 73 per cent:


Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri on Wednesday said that box trade had registered a phenomenal growth of 73 percent at Port Qasim (PQ) during the tenure of the present government due to its judicious and user-friendly approach.


'Under the circumstances, dredging and deepening of channels is our prerequisite and would be undertaken shortly, while the construction of new terminal would also be considered,' he said during his visit to Port Qasim to review different development projects there. He said that one could gauge the rapid industrialisation at the Port by the fact that 125 industries were operational and 27 were under construction, while some 70 industries were in the pipeline.


Ghauri said that under the guidelines and vision of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, the ports had accelerated their performance on fast track policy and it was evident from the fact that ports were contributing significantly to the national exchequer.


The Minister was briefed by senior officials of PQ about the ongoing and future projects at the Port. The minister stressed the need for implementation of the projects in the shortest possible time. Port Qasim Chairman Vice Admiral Asad Qureshi and other senior officials attended the briefing.