They said that KPT's $1.6 billion flagship project, 'Pakistan Deep Water Container Port' (PDWCP), envisages to cater to the needs of the sixth-generation ships. Sources said that whereas the dredging and reclamation works at the mega project had started, the Hong Kong-based concessionaire of the project, Hutchison Port Holdings, would execute the terminal's development and operations by 2012 at a cost of $457 million.
In view of the increased container cargo volume, as a result of the PDWCP, the KPT would develop a 'cargo village' and 'industrial park'/'off dock facility' over an area of 1800 acres in the western backwaters as a satellite facility in the vicinity of Karachi Port, they added.
They said that the project would house individual areas catering for containers, general, and bulk cargo, processing plants, customs and other related facilities. Under its infrastructure development program, the KPT would undertake works like dredging and reclamation, connectivity to M-1 and Lyari Expressway, internal road and rail links, construction of a two-kilometre long and 16-metre deep quay wall at a cost of $400 million.
According to sources, the KPT is also seeking foreign investment of at least $450 million for constructing a 65-metre high 'Harbour Crossing Bridge' to connect PDWCP to the 'cargo village'. Also, the KPT had started reconstructing its decades-old ageing berths, in phases, on self-finance basis. In Phase I, berths number 10 to 14 are being reconstructed at 16-metre designed draught, sources said.
They said that KPT, being the only port operator to dredge its port on its own, would further fortify its dredging and support fleet through replacement of its ageing floating fleet. Sources said that the Trust has a plan to procure at least four 'hopper' barges, one fire fighting vessel, two passenger boats, two pilot boats, two pusher tugs, a dredge tender, and two 60 ton bollard pull tugs at a cost of Rs 4.465 billion.
Further, to sustain its leading role in the port sector and to diversify its sources of revenue, the KPT is undertaking several large-scale projects, like development of 'Port District' and the 'KPT 77 Maritime Enclave' to fill the gap of world-class office space with all allied facilities, sources said. The KPT would also soon be opening the much-awaited Port Grand project, also known as Food Street, on the Native Jetty Bridge, they said.
To curb marine pollution, the KPT would build a 'Wetland Park' with a sewerage treatment plant on the Mai Kolachi Road, which would not only arrest the sewage falling into the sea from the adjoining areas. The construction of berths number 1 to 3, Manora Dry Dock, Boat Basin Jetties and the Lea Market flyover are the other projects on the drawing board, said the officials. It may be mentioned here that Karachi Port is the largest port of Pakistan, in terms of income generation and cargo handling.