‘Deep Water Container Port to start working this year’

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping was given detailed briefing on the functions and organizational structure of Port Qasim Authority besides the status and progress of deep sea berth in Karachi Port Trust.

According to press release, the committee met Monday and was presided over by its Chairman Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif. KPT was informed that operational hurdles have been removed and the Deep Water Container Port would be operational by the end of this year. The committee was given a detailed briefing on the appointments and promotions made by PQA during last five years. The committee was surprised that no appointment on any vacancy has been made from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Officials stated that proper rules have been formulated for recruitment now. PQA has earned a net profit of Rs 4321.707 million. It has handled 47 LNG vessels. The committee was also briefed about the second LNG project. Regarding allotment of plots during last three years, the PQA informed that a 40 acres plot has been allotted to Ms. Pak Suzuki Motors for automobile industry, a 13.18 acres plot to Ms Engro LNG terminal for construction of LNG terminal and a 200 acres land allotted to Ms Port Qasim Electric Power for construction of power plant. The meeting was attended by Senators Naseema Ehsan, Agha Shahbaz Durrani and Taj Haider. Secretary of the ministry and senior officers of PQA and KPT were also present at the meeting.