ISLAMABAD, June 10: Minister for Communications and Railways Javed Ashraf Qazi has directed to establish close coordination among various departments of ports and shipping so that their performance could be improved.

The minister was presiding over a high-level meeting here on Monday in which development projects of Karachi Port Trust were reviewed in detail.

He said that ports and shipping sector enjoyed key significance in economic uplift of the country and added that every possible steps would be taken to modernize this sector.

He said that role of communications departments in all round development was an accepted one. He said the existing leadership of Pakistan was undertaking concrete steps for development of ports and shipping because the ports of Pakistan possessed vital significance in regional trade activity in the future.

Ports and shipping can prove a source of foreign exchange through international trade activity. He further said, in order to modernize the shipping sector, it was imperative to take detailed study of international shipping environment and a comprehensive policy be chalked out to this effect.

The minister said all the resources be utilized for development and extension of ports so that pace of economic uplift could be accelerated.

He urged to evolve comprehensive policy for pollution-free marine environment so that protection of marine life could be ensured. He said the shipping policy would greatly help develop this sector according to world standard.

Mr Qazi said that Karachi Port Trust had reconstructed Berth No 5-10 at a cost of Rs1,800 million. “Our endeavour is to involve private sector in development projects of KPT,” he said.

He added that the KPT had also constructed two new bridges and reconstructed two old bridges over River Lyari.