THE Government of Pakistan intends to build a fourth port in the country to cope with the growth in cargo volumes.
This comes as the nation's sea freight volumes recorded 12 per cent growth between July 2005 and June 2006 to amount to 53 million tonnes, compared to the corresponding prior year period. Container volume during this period was up 20 per cent to 1.75 million TEU.
Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in 2008, although a report in the Gulf News said that no site has yet been chosen.
The first phase of the new port of Gwadar in Balochistan province is expected to begin operations in March.
It said a new port, which will have an annual handling capacity of 4.5 million TEU and a 4.5 kilometre quay when all three phases are completed, is also being developed in three phases at Karachi.
Nine major terminal operators, including DP World and a consortium that includes Sharjah's Gulftainer, are also said to have been shortlisted to manage Pakistan Deepwater Container Port.
The report cited Karachi Port Trust (KPT) chairman Ahmad Haya saying that projects worth US$2.5 billion to expand the port of Karachi are also taking shape, including a $1.2 billion deepwater port at Keamari near Karachi, which is expected to commence operations in 2009.
The KPT are providing 60 per cent of funding for the deepwater port and the remainder of the bill will be footed by the three port operators that will manage the three container terminals. Other projects include development of a cargo village and an industrial zone in Karachi.
Finally, DP World is reported to be spending $211 million on building a new container terminal at Port Qasim.
Asian Shipper News
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