By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
The Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping, Senator Kamran
Michael, visited the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) where he took round various
maritime installations and the ongoing development projects. He
was accompanied by the KPT Chairman and other high port officials.
The Minister visited all the operational berths including the
three oil piers and during his three-hour visit and he also inspected the newly
laid out breakwaters that will streamline the channels of Karachi Port.
He visited the deepened length of the approach channel while the Chairman
explained the desirability of deeper access for berthing of large post-panamax
carriers.
During inspection of under construction Pakistan Deep
Water Container Port, the Minister directed the KPT to bring all the issues
related to delay caused in its completion so that action could be taken at the
appropriate forum for their resolution.
He said that PDWCP will create much needed employment opportunities for the
young workforce of Pakistan.
While having an appraisal of current state of operations at
Karachi Port the Minister raised many pertinent queries about various
operational practices.
He conveyed the vision of the present government and asked the officers
to implement it transparently to ensure greater performance
efficiency and made the same a role model for others to follow.
He stressed on having strategic priorities for the Port to
bring them in an alignment with international maritime requirements. He pointed
out that Karachi Port, being the largest recipient of Pakistan’s national
maritime trade, is expected to perform the assigned tasks with diligence
and devotion.
On the occasion he listened to the issues raised by port
workforce and issued on the spot orders for solving them. He promised to look
into their long term problems and assured their representatives that he will
try utmost to find solution to them.
He said he will visit Karachi Port regularly and monitor its activities
personally. He directed the management to provide his detail appraisal of all
port activities to enable him to take appropriate steps thereof.
