KARACHI: The building of Pakistan’s first sea-going vessel is likely to start at the Karachi Shipyard before the end of the current year, Mr A. Hamid Ghani, General Manager of the Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, said here yesterday.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony of the 1,050-ton capacity oil-tanker “Korangi” to Messrs Pakistan River Streamers, he said that the proposed sea-going ship will be of 10,000 tons DW and will be built in collaboration with a Czech firm of repute, Messrs Split.

Mr Ghani said when the Shipyard came into being as one of the major projects of the PIDC (now WPIDC) its ultimate aim was to build ocean-going vessels.

After making a start with tugs, barges etc, the shipyard undertook the building of oil-tankers and “Korangi” was the second and the biggest vessel thus far made by the Shipyard.

Mr Ghani said that the Shipyard was still in the preliminary stage. The goal is, however, nearer and would be achieved when the building of the proposed 10,000-ton vessel starts sometime this year.

He said that the Government has already agreed to grant a subsidy of Rs. 20 lakhs for this purpose during the current financial year. The Czech firm has also agreed to collaborate and the only thing left to be decided was the party for whom it would be built.

He said that the Shipyard has so far been suffering from lack of orders. — Staff Correspondent

Tarbela at any cost: Shoaib

QUETTA: Pakistan will go ahead with its plans for completion of Tarbela Dam under all circumstances. This was stated here this morning (Aug 12) by the Central Minister for Finance, Mr Mohammad Shoaib. Friendly countries, he added, were being constantly approached for assistance.

Mr Shoaib, who was addressing a Press conference, said that although response was still awaited from friendly countries, “we are not pessimistic about it”.

Replying to a question as to whether the recent statement in Quetta of the American Ambassador that the United States Government had not made any specific commitment on the Tarbala Dam project was correct, the Finance Minister said: “I don’t want to enter into arguments with friends through the Press.” — Correspondent