20000404

Minister briefed

on KPT uplift

activities

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The Federal Minister for Communications, Lt. Gen Iftikhar Hussain Shah visited the Karachi Port on Monday for the first time after assuming the charge of the ministry. He was received by KPT Chairman Admiral Khalid M Mir.

A detailed briefing was given at the chairman's office by General Manager, Planning and Development, to the minister on all round development activities and facilitation provided to the trade during the last three years.

According to a KPT press release, the minister was informed that the Karachi Port was planning to corporatise its various functions under the landlord port strategy which was approved by the cabinet. A number of development schemes, including setting up a Container Freight Station at TPX, procurement of two tugs and three pilot boats, construction of Oil Pier II, setting up of a container terminal at East Wharf and total computerisation of the KPT were in hand and specialised studies on other aspects of modernisation had been entrusted to consultants.

The Minister during his visit also chaired the first meeting of the Northern Bypass Implementation Board (NBIB). This board has recenlty been set up by the Government and, besides the minister, consists of Federal Communications, Secretary, Minister of Communications and Works, government of Sindh, KPT Chairman, Additional Chief Secretary, Sindh, provincial land utilisation and communication secretaries and general manager (P&D) KPT. The board was updated on the progress and decisions were taken on the strategy of BOT project. Nespak was selected as the consultant for the project.