KARACHI, Oct 26: Federal Communications Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi on Friday said the Karachi ports will be upgraded and modernized to handle all sort of containers and cargo with added facilities to the port users.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for installation of two ship to shore Gantry Cranes by Port Link International Services on berths No. 4 & 5 at the East Wharf, the Minister said a process of modernization, upgradation of the port had already been initiated with an active participation of the private sector. The Karachi Port will be upgraded to an international standard so that it could be made a hub for all sort of container handling port in the region, he added.

He called upon the host company of the Capt. Haleem Siddiqui to withdraw the cases in the court and go for re-tendering so that the berths six to nine could also be opened for all sort of cargo ships. The said berths due to litigation between the host company and the KPT, were out of any sort of upgradation/ modernization plan at present.

He said the government had given a package for the private sector to register vessels at the Karachi Port and waiting response of the private sector towards waiving off the registration fee and other concessions. The new ships have been exempted from taxes and duties and paper work has been completed in this regard, he added.

Agreeing with the Haleem Siddiqui’s contention that the port facilitation and upgradation equipment, to be used within the port area should be exempted from all sort of duties and taxes, he said he had taken up the issue with the Central Board of Revenue and was rejected last year. He added that he will take up this issue again with the CBR.

He said with the installation of the ship to shore Gantry cranes, Karachi Port would be able to provide international standard port services at East Wharf.

He said after dredging of the births up to 16 feet, bigger vessels will be able to call Karachi Port. Though Port Qasim has limited resources, he added, it had also initiated modernization project. He said that optimum depth is essential for all berths to ensure that every size of vessel can call at the port.

Talking about the imposition of the war risk premium, he reiterated that it is uncalled for, unjustified as “our ports are safe and far away from war area”. “No mad man is running after another to kill, no demonstration in the port area, Afghanistan has no navy to attack Karachi Port and Pakistan is not at war, therefore, the imposition of the war risk surcharge was unjustified and should be waived off”.

Chairman, Karachi Port Trust, Admiral Ahmed Hayat, on the occasion said KPT was working as facilitator and controller agency while the private sector, which was the engine of the growth, had been given chance to take the lead in improving the port conditions and facilities.

Haleem Siddiqui, Managing Director of Portlink International Services, in his address of welcome said after the installation of the most modern post Panamax Gantry cranes by October next year, the requirement of mobile harbour cranes would cease to exist.

The project will cost $17 million and have an outreach of 46 meters far more than any existing container handling crane in Pakistan, he said.—APP