The Federal Communications Minister, Babar Ghouri, announced here on Monday a crash programme for the development of Port Qasim to help it cope with the heavy rush of exports during the WTO free trade regime.
The programme includes construction of new berths and a new steel jetty, broadening of existing berths, purchase of a dredger and strengthening of the navigation system with more tugs and pilot boats.
Addressing the employees of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) during his maiden visit to Port Qasim on Monday after taking over charge, he directed the PQA officials to start work on the new projects immediately to make the port ready to cope with the increased rush of exports from the new textile city and a new steel mill being set up in the vicinity of the Port.
The Minister exhorted the PQA employees to work hard to make the port more attractive and productive than the regional ports in the free trade competition beginning from 2005.
He said that countries with quality products and competitive rates would win the free trade race, and added that a strong port would make the country strong.
'If we don not make Pakistan strong and progressive we might meet the fate worse than our neighbouring Afghanistan," he cautioned.
Turning to the workers' welfare, Babar exhorted them to maintain discipline and an orderly environment at the Port.
He said that he would not allow any officer to deprive workers of their genuine rights and dues, provided they work honestly to increase the income of the organisation.
He referred to his recent action in KPT in favour of the workers, who were forced, rather than volunteer, to accept the golden handshake scheme.
Ghouri announced payment of 15 percent increase in salary for the PQA staff with retrospective effect from July 2003.
He also promised to look into their demand for bonus and for plots in Qasim housing scheme.
Earlier the PQA Chairman, Vice-Admiral Taj Mohammad Khatak, called for creating modern berthing facilities in the present era of containerisation of sea trade in the world.
He said that the neighbouring ports of Mumbai and Bandar Abbas, due to their modern outfit, were more attractive compared to other ports in the region.
"To compete with these ports we have to build new berths and equip them with modern equipment to handle maximum number of containers."
He called for setting up modern engineering workshops to help the port repair and maintain it crafts to save precious foreign exchange.
These workshops will be manned by the children of the employees inducted in training on merit.
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