Port Qasim: Freight volume increases to 23-mn tonnes

Karachi: The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) is going to touch cargo volume of 23 million tonnes during the current financial year 2005-06. The PQA, the first commercial-cum-industrial port of the country is playing a vital role in the country's economic development and providing time-efficient as well as cost-effective port services and facilities.


A steady increase in cargo handling is being witnessed at the PQA over the years. Currently the port caters for more than 40 percent of the total sea-borne trade of the country. A landmark in cargo handling was achieved on Monday when record cargo handling of 139,000 tonnes was handled at the port.


In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the PQA has set a new priority to facilitate trade which includes reduction in cost of doing business by improving trade logistics to international standard.


The port also focuses on cost recovery rather than profit maximisation and reduces port dwell time to facilitate speedy dispatches and accommodate larger ships to benefit from economies of scale.


The PQA's industrial zones has also been able to attract sizeable foreign direct investment during the financial year 2005-06, reached a new record of $0.47 billion in the form of various industrial-cum-commercial undertakings. This also includes infrastructure to enhance port capabilities, the PQA is actively working on capacity-building which includes establishment of LPG terminal, liquid cargo terminal, grain and fertiliser terminal.