Port Qasim to augment capacity by 160% in four years

Karachi: Diplomats from 40 foreign countries were briefed about the geo-strategic location of Pakistan on the world map and significance of its ports which placed the country in an ideal position to grow and establish itself as a regional hub for international trade.

The briefing was conducted by Chairman, PQA, Vice-Admiral, Asad Qureshi during the visit of diplomats to PQA Wednesday. The diplomats were from Brunei, South Africa, Yemen, Botswana, Congo, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgstan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Niger, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Chairman, PQA also enlightened the guests about the objectives of National Trade Corridor improvement plan for providing efficient transport links, simplification of procedures, reduction in port charges and customs reforms for sustainable growth to reduce cost of doing business in Pakistan to boost exports.

The delegates were informed that with the deepening and widening of channel to 15 meter draught (in all weather) and with the installation of night beacon, the ship handling capacity would also increase from its present capacity and by 2010, with the completion of additional nine terminals, increase in berths shall be 100 percent while annual handling capacity shall increase by 161 percent. They were also briefed about the future development plan in industrial sector at the Port.