KARACHI, Dec 9: A five-member Indian delegation on Friday visited the Port Qasim and said that the port had great potential for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the maritime sector.

The delegation led by the joint secretary, department of shipping, Susheel Kumer, was briefed by the PQA secretary about ongoing projects and future prospects at the port. It was briefed about LNG and oil terminal, second container terminal, grain and fertilizer terminal and other projects at the port.

Susheel Kumer enquired about import and export cargo ration handled by the PQA. He was informed that 65 per cent of cargo handling was import cargo and 35 per cent export cargo.

The director general, operations, Rear Admiral M.A. Khan, apprised the Indian delegation of the development taking place in the industrial area of the port, including the establishment of textile city and industrial park.

During the discussion, Susheel Kumar pointed out that India had 184 ports, of which only 12 were in the public sector. He said the Dredging Corporation of India was a public sector entity competing with the private sector. It earned a profit of Rs1.2 billion in the last fiscal year, he added.

The delegation also visited Qasim International Container Terminal, the private cargo terminal at the PQA.