June 20, 2003	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1424

KARACHI, June 19: Communications Minister Ahmed Ali on Thursday asked the Karachi Port Trust authorities to provide more facilities to port users at reduced rates and maximize the profit through enhanced turnover.

“I want 100 per cent occupancy of berths. It is not welcoming that 15 out of 30 berths remain vacant,” said the minister during a briefing given to him here at KPT House.

The minister also directed swift clearance of cargo and asked for rationalization of labour to reduce cost.

General manager operations Brig Jamshed Zaidi while briefing the minister said the KPT had already offered many concessions and incentives to its users, besides upgradation of facilities. He said dry cargo charges at the KPT are lower than other ports of the region.

Wait charges have been reduced by 15 per cent, and the period will be extended to 30 days against present 15 days.

The minister was told the KPT would soon increase its channel draft to 13.5 metres, which would attract more vessels, specially the heavy ones. He said the facilities for container handling were being improved, which would help capture new markets. The port was seeking maximum private sector participation in cargo handling.

The Karachi Port through improved performance and financial discipline had increased its operating profit to Rs1,102 million against last fiscal’s Rs914 million.

The minister asked the KPT authorities to enter into dialogue with SITE, North Nazimabad Industrial Estate and Korangi Industrial Estate to sell their product, which would be paying dues in time against that of a public sector utility.

The minister was told the KPT would launch more development projects, including port’s cargo village, port club and port town where world class facilities would be provided. The KPT has planned to set up 14 mega cameras to monitor the ships movement in the channel, the KPT chairman said.—APP