ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is an important organ of the logistics chain and the government will provide assistance to make it an efficient and modern port equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

This was stated by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz while reviewing the performance and re-organizational plans of the KPT at a high-level meeting held here at the Prime Minister’s House.

The prime minister directed the minister for ports and shipping and the chairman, KPT, to take necessary steps to make it a time- and cost-effective entity so that it could become a hub of trade activity in the region.

The prime minister was informed that the KPT was taking many steps to make it competitive with the regional ports, including cutting down costs, expanding markets and incorporating corporate governance.

The meeting was also informed that steps were being taken to make the KPT a deep-water and transit port.

Plans for development of KPT real estate, various public-private ventures, automation, construction of cargo village, development of KPT beach, Port Club and methodology to increase cargo traffic were also discussed.