National News

ISLAMABAD, (APP): Gwadar Port after further expansion
and development as per its Port Master Plan, has potential to become
one of the largest ports in the world and may increase its cargo
handling capacity upto 300 million tonnes annually.
An official source told APP that the existing Multipurpose
Terminal of Gwadar Port is not being utilized upto its capacity.
He said initially Concession Agreement was signed with M/s
Port of Singapore Authority International. During December, 2008,
ECC decided to import all bulk wheat, urea and coal from Gwadar,
From December,2008 till date a total of 6.329 million tons of urea,
wheat has been imported through Gwadar Port.
The present port operator M/s China Overseas Ports Holding
Company has commenced container service on short scale loaded with
sea food from Gwadar Port, he said. He said work on Free Zone of
the port, which will gear-up life into full port operationalization
was going on.
He said that there is shortage of electric power, fresh water
supply and hinterland connectivity which is hampering full port
operationalization. He said technically speaking Gwadar Port with
its infrastructure is operational and ready to receive ship calls.
However, commercially speaking, he said the port shall attain
optimum operations once hinterland connectivity is completed,
businesses are started in Gwadar, Port Free Zone and required
infrastructures are in place.
He said that Gwadar Port has a master plan for 50 years for
its expansion and construction and at present it is operational
with 602 metres quay length Multipurpose Terminal accommodating
three ships at a time each of 50,000 tones deadweight capacity,
one RORO facility and one service berth of 100 metre length for
marine crafts for maintenance and refueling. East revetment of
approximately 1000 metres is ready in all respect for extension
of present quay.
The total length of quay wall along the east revetment
will be 4.7 Km accommodating 22 ships of 200 meters each in
the next phase port expansion:
He said another phase of development of quays will be
along the western and north western shore a total length of
17 Km accommodating 51 ships of 300 meters length. This port
area is allocated for construction of Container Terminal.