Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri on Friday inaugurated a desalination plant at Manora Island; completed at the cost of Rs 140 million. A large number of residents of Manora, Baba and Bhit islands and of the adjoining areas and senior officers of KPT attended the ceremony.
The Minister, in his address on this occasion, said the plant having capacity of treating 200,000 gallon per day will supply water to the residents of Manora Island and the adjoining areas. He complemented KPT management for their efforts to duly fulfil the commitment by Ministry of Ports and Shipping made to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani who had directed the Ministry to ensure provision sweet water to Manora Island and the adjoining areas.
He said that under the second phase of the execution of the Prime Minister KPT would construct two more desalination plants for Keamari and TPX areas. He said that the residents of Manora, Baba and Bhit islands and the adjoining areas were demanding from the Government to provide potable water to them. Earlier, these residents were used to bring water from the city in barrages until Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) representatives in City District Government Karachi (CDGK) arranged potable water supply for these areas by pipelines passing through the sea.
Chairman KPT Aslam Hayatt in his welcome address said the plant has been financed and owned by KPT. It has been completed with help of a local company ASK Technology and ARITIM Turkey, a Turkish firm. The work was started in Decembeer 01, 2009. It would be Nestle grade water. The Minister for Ports and Shipping also informed that KPT has also purchased two ferries from Bangladesh to provide better transport to the residents of these islands. These ferries would reach the Port within next few days.