KARACHI, Sept 11: Port Qasim Authority is going to increase draught for ships calling at the port to 11.5 metres from Sept 15, 2002. Earlier draught at the port had been restricted to maximum of 11 metres due to monsoon period.

Ships calling at QICT and Fotco Oil Terminal will benefit from deeper draught at the port. As a step further PQA has also increased beam of ships from 40 metres to 41 metres for ships calling at Fotco Oil Terminal.

The increase in draught and dimensions will attract berthing of larger sized vessels at the port.

In the wake of increased shipping at the port, pace of containerized traffic has also gathered momentum. During August 2002, a record throughput of 26,067 containers (TEUs) carried in 23 container ships, at a minimal waiting time and handling rate of 981 containers per day, conforming to international standards was achieved.