Port Qasim will witness huge development soon: minister

KARACHI: Syed Faisal Subzwari, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs who was the Chief Guest at Annual Networking Session of Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI), stated that Port Qasim will see huge development in the near future.

The minister was explaining the roadmap already in place for the building of infrastructure on modern lines not only to facilitate the marine traffic but also the industries.

The minister assured the audience that Port Qasim Authority (PQA) have decided to carryout dredging, deepening and widening of the main PQA Channel to meet the requirement of terminal operators for deeper draught vessels and to meet the competitive challenges.

With the improvement in the channel draught, deep draught vessels will be able to call Port Qasim which will not only reduce the congestion in the port but will also save huge amount of foreign exchanged paid on account of freight.

Minister Maritime Affairs in his address was very receptive and assured his fullest support to have more investment in Port Qasim. He was very much proactive in introducing policies not only to explore the avenues to enhance the industrialization beside to further improve the marine facilities. He appreciated the efforts of the Private Sector that in spite of various obstacles, the Industrial activity is going on.

Sabzwari assured BQATI to look into the issues and the suggestions put forward by the Association and it was agreed to maintain level of close interaction to achieve the desired objective.

Mian Muhammad Ahmed, Patron-In-Chief, BQATI while welcoming the guests explained the role of Bin Qasim Association of Trade & Industry (BQATI) as a facilitator between the industries located in Bin Qasim Industrial Zone (BQIZ) and the Port Qasim Authority.

On this occasion Abdul Rasheed Jan Mohammed, President BQATI advocated that Port Qasim Industrial Zone one of the best Industrial Zones in Karachi.

It was also highlighted by Rasheed Jan Mohammad that Port Qasim Industrial Zone holds great potential for attracting foreign and local investment due to its unique location being adjacent to the port having modern shipping facilities.

He informed that the BOT Terminals of LNG, Grains, Petroleum, Containers, Edible Oil are indeed the great assets of Pakistan. It was emphasized that once the infrastructure issues are addressed, BQATI expect more investment in the area, which will not only create employment but will give a tremendous boost to the industrialization.

Rasheed Janmohammed also acknowledged the role of K-Electric being proactive in providing new connections. He appealed K-Electric management to ensure providing un-interrupted electricity to the continuous plants particularly when gas is not available for captive plants.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022