The Pakistan People's Party (PPP)-led government will review all policies and issues related to the field of ports and shipping. This was stated by Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Industries, Production and Privatisation, during his visit to Port Qasim here on Saturday.
Port Qasim Authority (PQA) Chairman Rear Admiral Afzal welcomed the Minister. The new government will review all policies of the previous government and will change them, if needed, said the minister while talking to media persons.
On the longstanding issues like ownership of Bundal and Buddo Island, closure of Karachi Dock Labour Board, allotment of land and residential plots, employment, making payments to those whose lands were included in the PQA etc, the minister said all issues would be closely examined.
He said a consensus government on the federal and provincial level would help resolve all outstanding disputes related to ports and shipping. Assessment of all ports of the country were being carried out to bring communication network of the country at par with international standard and enhance cargo handling capacity of the ports, the minister said.
He said that if needed the government would embark upon the policy of privatisation in the ports and shipping circle. Terming the growth at Port Qasim satisfactory the minister stressed the need for establishing a bulk cement terminal at Port Qasim and directed the PQA to examine its feasibility.
He said there was enough space for construction of more berths and terminals at Port Qasim and the PQA was working on a comprehensive strategy in terms of capacity building. Earlier, Rear Admiral Mohammad Saeed Kureshi, Director-General, Technical, briefed the minister that the PQA had achieved a record cargo handling of 24.4 million tons during financial year 2007-08, registering a growth of 13 percent over the previous year.
For capacity enhancement, 10 private sector projects are being implemented as against three projects in the last 24 years, he said. He said by completion of the said projects by 2010 the PQA handling capacity would be increased to 82 million tons, an increase of 164 percent, while number of berths would be increased from 10 to 20, registering an increase of 100 percent.
The PQA is also striving for deepening of its navigation channel to attract major shipping lines at the port. The minister was also briefed about wheat handling operations at Port Qasim. Kureshi said so far 30 ships carrying at least 1.2 million tons wheat had been handled at the port with an average per day handling capability of more than 7400 tons.
Earlier, dozens of People's Labour Union workers, shouting 'long live Bhutto', welcomed the minister at the port. "We appreciate the prime minister for abolishing the anti-labour rules like IRO 2002," said Senior Vice Chairman of the Union Abdul Razzak Khaskhely talking to Business Recorder.
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