ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Pakistan will have its fourth port along a new city with the name of "Aladin City" and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is expected to approve its plan in the first week of February, says Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri.
Talking to Dawn here on Thursday, the minister said this new port would be constructed on the pattern of Gwadar Port along a tax-free city, to be known as "Aladin City."Mr Ghouri said that his ministry had identified two places for the construction of the new port and these names would be presented before the prime minister for final approval in a meeting next month.
The minister, however, refused to disclose the proposed locations for the new port, saying the name would be disclosed only after the final approval.
Earlier, speaking in the Senate the minister told the members that President Gen Pervez Musharraf would inaugurate the Gwadar Port in Balochistan on March 23 this year. He termed the Gwadar Port as the biggest project of the present government and it would be beneficial for the country, as well as for the people of Balochistan.
He said it was wrong to say that the Gwadar Port had been handed to any other country, saying only the port operation was being given to Singapore Port authorities.
The minister during the Question Hour told the Senate that roads linking Gwadar with China and Central Asian countries would be completed by the year 2009.
He admitted that earlier the roads projects were expected to be completed in 2006.
In reply to a question by MMA Senator Liaquat Ali Bangalzai, the minister said a study for re-building of eight berths at the Karachi Port was being carried out to allow docking of deeper and large vessels with great cargo capacity.
