Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri stated this while visiting the project site on Monday. Bernard Fantom, representative of the Invent Water Treatment Limited United Kingdom, briefed the minister about the project.
Ghauri said the project was very important in context to tourism and beautification of the metropolis and port.
He said that the fountains in Geneva and Dubai are about 250 to 300 feet high but the Karachi fountain will be 500-feet high and could be seen from very far away. About 18 floodlights will also be installed in the fountain and it will be a gift for the people of the city, he added.
The minister said that facilities available at Port Qasim and KPT were at par with the international ports, and port charges have also been reduced to facilitate the foreign vessels.
Replying to a query, Ghauri said the government would outsource such functions, which the ports could not perform.
The minister said various other government-owned organisations were also being privatised and similarly many Karachi Port Trust (KPT)-handled functions are being outsourced. However, he added, while doing so the protection of workers' rights would be ensured. But the government will not allow anybody to create hurdles, he stressfully said.
Ghauri said that the development of areas around the ports was also among the port's responsibilities, which would be fulfilled.