KARACHI, March 30: Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri has said that the government will develop a modern “media city” in Port Qasim area to cater to the growing demand of newspapers and television channels.

He was addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club along with the Secretary and Director General Ports and Shipping.

The minister said that 100acre land at Port Qasim had been allocated for this purpose and expressions of interest (EOIs) would be invited next week from interested parties. He said that this city would have most modern telecommunication and IT facilities for setting up newspaper offices and modern studios for television channels.

He pointed out that the ministry of information technology would be requested to provide the latest and high-tech services like DSL line facility to speedy transfer of news.

Mr Ghauri said that this idea had been developed on instructions of the president to provide most modern facilities and better working environment to media. He said that the prime minister would be requested to perform the ground breaking ceremony of this prestigious project.

The minister said that the land would be provided on official rates to media people. A plot of one acre for setting up a press club would also be provided there, he said. However, he made it clear that the building of Karachi Press Club would remain at its existing place as it had its own history and importance for journalists.

He said that residential facilities for journalists would also be developed near the media city in the shape of apartments. He was of the view that this media city would attract large investment and would be a model for other countries in the region to emulate.

About the allotments in the residential scheme for overseas Pakistanis “Al-Watan”, Mr Ghauri said that 1,023 plots had been allotted while 357 applications were pending. He further said that US$7 million had been earned from these allotments. Private sector would also be involved in developing industrial park at Port Qasim land, he disclosed. —APP