Karachi port. – File photo
Karachi port. – File photo

KARACHI, Dec 11: The 15 per cent cut in port charges has brought both Karachi and Qasim ports at par with other regional ports including Dubai and Colombo in terms of competitiveness.

The improvement in the capacity of ports is expected to attract more business and facilitate trading community of the country, said Port Qasim Chairman Vice-Admiral (retd) Mohammad Shafi at a ceremony held on Tuesday announcing night navigation facility for 310-metre LOA (length overall) vessels throughout the year at the port.

He said that PQA was acquiring a Chinese dredger which would reach by end of this month and the cost of the dredger would be recovered in three years because annual cost of dredging at the port came to around Rs1.5 billion.

He mentioned the rail track passing through Port Qasim where each cargo train carry around 80 containers at a time but there was demand for more cargo trains operating between upcountry and Karachi.

He mentioned Maersk Kolkata, which availed the facility of night navigation operation at the port.

Shafi said there was a time when the port had 10-metre draft which was gradually deepened to 13-metre and now it would be dredged to 14 metre by March next year.

He said the port had transformed into an efficient industrial port with large number of warehouses, container freight station and various industries.

Changazi Khan Niazi, Chief Executive Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT), said that Port Qasim is ideally located and has the potential to expand to meet future challenges.

He disclosed the setting up of International Container Terminal at Lahore over 30 acres which will provide CSF facility and also set up depot and auction yard.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.