KARACHI, June 8: The government has decided to develop grain handling and storage facilities at marginal wharf berth of three and four at Port Qasim for imports and exports of food grains and wheat.
The storage facilities — silos — will have transit storage of 50,000 tons capacity and all other facilities required for storage conforming to international standards.
Giving details, Chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA), Rear Admiral, Sikandar Viqar Naqvi SI (M), told newsmen at Bin Qasim on Saturday that three investors have been shortlisted. He said the last date of bidding has been extended to June 20 from June 6 on the request of Chinese firm. The cost of the project is estimated at Rs240 million.
He said the project is on priority of PQA since current wheat handling facilities, apart from being inadequate, result in environmental pollution, wastage and high cost of ocean freight. Currently the PQA is handling export of wheat of TCP and PASSCO.
Talking about future plans, he said, Port Qasim Authority has also planned to construct a shallow draft jetty after analyzing customs and other formalities in dealing with small consignments through boat/trawlers on the eastern side of berth No.1 of the marginal wharf.
The proposed jetty will provide sufficient area for berthing up to seven boats of 30-35 metres length simultaneously. A back up area of 10 acres will also be available for covered and open storage on the shore side of the jetty. He said PQA plans realization of this project on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis in private sector.
Other future development plans include: procurement of dredger, tugs, pilot boats and surveillance boats and establishment of second oil jetty, liquid cargo terminal and clinker and cement terminal besides setting up of LPG terminal, bulk water supply schemes, development of infrastructure facilities and computerization of PQA.
Sikandar said an agreement has been signed with KSEW for construction of two tugs, two pilot boats and three surveillance boats.
In next two years, PQA will have its own dredger as the authority is already spending Rs550-600 million per annum on procurement of dredger. In
the current year, a Belgium
company was awarded a dredging contract at the rate of Rs91 per cubic metre as ompared
to Rs139 per cubic metre last year.
PQA chief said that currently one tug and one pilot boat has
been hired on rent from KSEW on which Rs81 million is being spent every year as rent. Besides, PQA will have its own surveillance boats by end of this year.
The Authority has also off-loaded 435 staff and workers by introducing early retirement scheme, costing Rs245 million besides terminating jobs of 10-12 persons on various charges. The total strength of PQA now stands at 1,522.
PQA chief said since the government has sanctioned 1,703 staff strength for the Port Qasim Authority, the authority still needs 181 qualified and skilled persons. The Port Qasim Authority has received around 40,000-50,000 applications in this regard.
The Authority has also got an industrial estate comprising 12,000 acres of land and so far 32 units have been established.
He said shortage of water is creating problems in attracting more investors and industrialists towards the PQA land. The industrial areas needs 20 million gallon of water per day.
He said PQA handles around 14-15 million tons of cargo out of which the share of furnace oil is 35 per cent followed by 22 per cent of Pak Steel imports, 20 per cent of container cargo, 8 per cent edible oil, 6 per cent chemicals, 4 per cent diesel, 3 per cent crude oil, and 1 per cent each wheat and other items. A total of 612 ships were handled in 2000-2001 as compared to 590 ships in 1999-2000.
He said the PQA also aims to offer night navigational service to big size vessels by the end of this year. Currently the facility is available for small size vessels.