ISLAMABAD (January 24 2007): Pakistan will have another port soon as the government decides to build Karachi groyne as a deep seaport, a few kilometres away from the exiting Karachi Port, to handle long liners/vessels and provide the best facilities to the regional countries for international trade.

The survey and other initial work have confirmed that water depth at the selected site for Karachi groyne is ideal for the deep seaport and it will be developed on fast track basis. The new port will cost the KPT billions of dollars. However, KPT is confident to complete the mega project on self-finance basis.

Sources said the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) had presented the plan of the new deep seaport at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, sometimes back. Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Khan Ghauri, Naval, KPT and other security agencies' chiefs and senior officials of the concerned departments/ministries attended the meeting.

Sources added that the KPT authorities informed the meeting that it has sufficient funds to finance the Karachi groyne project and would complete it within the given timeframe of 5 to 6 years without any financial help of the federal government.

Sources said the Prime Minister approved the plan and directed the KPT authorities to float the international tender to hire consultants for preparing design and other works of the project.

Sources said the Karachi groyne would be developed in two phases. The first phase will be developed up to 14 meters depth and in the second phase it will be further developed up to 18 meters depth.

The sources added that KPT would utilise its financial resources to build the project and complete it by 2012-13.

They said the construction of the Karachi groyne would make Pakistan even more important strategically. The Karachi groyne project will be the alternative source for Pakistan to handle long liners after Gwadar Port.

Gwadar Port is becoming operational by March this year and it's going to be the deepest port in the region. Pakistan is expecting great commercial activities when its Gwadar Port becomes fully operational.

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