KARACHI, April 29: Despite some negative signals from New Delhi, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said on Tuesday that he was “encouraged “ by the response he got from Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his telephonic conversation on Monday.
He was talking to reporters after the ground-breaking ceremony of the Karachi Port Trust’s oil pier II at Keamari.
“Don’t be impatient. Give us some time, and I am sure things will move forward,” he said.
Asked to comment on remarks by a spokesman of the Indian ruling BJP that Mr Vajpayee had refused an invitation to visit Pakistan, Mr Jamali said: “I had talked to Mr Vajpayee and I am encouraged by my conversation. This contact was possible after 18 months. So please wait and give us some time.”
Mr Jamali’s telephonic conversation with Mr Vajpayee was in response to the Indian prime minister’s recent peace overtures.
Asked if any conditions were attached by his Indian counterpart, Mr Jamali was categorical in saying “No”.
When the prime minister was asked who was responsible for the outcome at Agra Summit, his reply was that leaders of both the countries were responsible.
When asked about progress on talks with the opposition on the LFO, Mr Jamali said: “Wait until May 15.” He also said “wait and see” when a question was asked about delay in the Sindh cabinet’s expansion.
Earlier, speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Oil Pier-II at Keamari, Prime Minister Jamali said Pakistan had come up economically in recent years and claimed that the years ahead would be more prosperous.
The Rs1.3 billion project, which is to be completed in two years by M/s China Harbour Engineering Company, pertains to reconstruction of liquid products marine terminal.
“Pakistani’s need is to see something on the ground, and not the empty promises. We would have a better and prosperous Pakistan for our next generation, in which Pakistan and China are playing an important role. Pakistan and China have all-weather friendship,” said the prime minister.
“We intend to keep the friendship intact,” he emphasized. In this context he referred to the warm welcome he was accorded during his visit to China where he had met the new leaders of that country.
Mr Jamali pointed out that Gwadar port, being built with Chinese assistance, was coming up on Balochistan’s coast, and upgrading of facilities at Port Qasim and Karachi Port would provide the much-needed infrastructure and facilities, not only for Pakistan, but also for the Gulf and Central Asian states.
Earlier, Mr Zhang Chunxiang, Ambassador of China to Pakistan, said the scope of this project covered demolition work of the existing OP-II terminal and construction work of a new, modern, marine terminal for liquid products. He was confident the success of this project would make a valuable contribution to the growth of Karachi Port and Pakistan’s economy as well as consolidation and development of Sino-Pakistan friendship.
Referring to prime minister’s visit to China, ambassador Chunxiang said the visit demonstrated the strength of the friendly relations between Pakistan and China.
Chairman KPT Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat said that within two years the capacity of Karachi Port for liquid products handling will enhance from 19 million tons annually to 25 million tons annually.
He said reconstruction of liquid products marine terminal was another major milestone in development programme of Karachi Port. The present 30-year-old pier with 3 million tons annual capacity and capability to handle 35,000dwt tankers will be replaced by modern state-of-the-art, 14.7 meters deep facility, having 8 million tons annual capacity.
“We envision Karachi Port to emerge as a modern, competitive and user-friendly port of the region. Our plans are focused on broad market base. We are converging our resources and strategic potentials towards meeting demands of the shipping sector,” he said.
Vice-Admiral Ahmed Hayat said the KPT’s development plans pivot on deepening of navigable channel in the first phase to 13.5 meters.
He said another innovative project of the KPT was setting up of a Cargo Village in western backwaters. This 100-acre facility will also provide direct links to M-10 and Lyari Expressway.
Secretary Communications Iftekhar Rashid said that with the construction of Gwadar port and upgrading facilities at Karachi Port and Port Qasim would make Pakistan a hub of economic activity in the region.
