ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: The government has allowed the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to undertake five projects, including deepening of the existing depth of port channel from 11.5m to 13.5m to facilitate the arrival of bigger ships. The projects would cost around Rs8 billion.

According to official sources, tenders would soon be invited for dredging, which would start in September this year, and cost $20 million (Rs1.2 billion).

Currently, bigger ships and container vessels used to unload goods for Pakistan at ports of Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Keeping in view the urgency of deepening of channel, it was decided that KPT would undertake the project through its own resources and procure dredger through the Japanese grant-in-aid. The project would complete in 15 months.

Capital dredging involved about 8.5 million cum of material and the KPT has decided to utilize the dredged material for the creation of an island near Oyster Rocks, which could yield commercial return.

The KPT, officials said, has also planned to replace 560 M long 10 M wide, 100 years old wooden jetty with reinforced concrete structures at an estimated cost of Rs220 million. The project would complete in December 2003.

KPT was also planning Reconstruction and Upgradation of Oil- Pier-11 for handling large size tankers with modern loading and unloading facilities. Pre-qualification of contractors was in process and work was expected to start by August this year. After its completion in 2003, the capacity of handling liquid cargo at Karachi Port will become about 24 million tons annually from the existing 18 million tons. The estimated cost of the project was Rs1.3 billion.

The authorities of KPT have also planned a Dedicated Container Terminal at Berths 6-9 East Wharves. The newly constructed Berths 6-9 have 600 m quay wall with 13.5 m depth for handling 12 m draught container vessels. The estimated cost of the project is $75 million. The project would complete by April 2004 and would vastly improve the Container Handling Capacity.

There were also proposals for the construction of Port Tower on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis by August 2002. The tower was expected to be constructed within 30 months after award of the contract. The estimated cost of the project was Rs560 million.

Further strengthening of navigational facilities at an estimated cost of Rs20 million, again on self-finance basis, has been planned by the KPT. The short-listing of the applicants was in process. Facilities for transshipment was under consideration to market the strategic location of Karachi Port to major lines calling in the region. Also two modern gantry cranes were being installed on East Wharves with a reach of 48 metres.