Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and Minister for Ports, Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Shaikh on Friday agreed to work to establish Keti Bandar Seaport for the export of Thar coal and other commodities.
Talks to revitalize Keti Bandar have been on-going for many decades at the governmental level.
However, the once-thriving international trading centre has yet to regain its past glory, lost after the construction of the Sukkur Barrage in 1932, which reduced water flow followed by the mass migration of Hindu traders from the area in 1947.
During a meeting at the CM House, CM and the ports minister also concurred to make Korangi Fish Harbour properly functional to reduce the load on Karachi Fish Harbour.
The CM and the federal minister discussed land issues between the Sindh government and Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and agreed to resolve them amicably so that foreign investment could be attracted.
The CM directed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to hold a meeting with the Ports and Shipping Secretary Dr Iram Anjum Khan to exchange notes on the issues, including the land so that they could be resolved.
Federal minister said that Karachi Port has become so loaded that Sindh needed another port to export coal and other commodities.
To which, CM replied that he had included Keti Bandar in the CPEC projects but when the CPEC had come to a halt during the previous government of PTI the project was put on the backburner.
Shaikh asked Shah to take up the matter of reviving Keti Bandar with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and that he would also pursue it so as to revitalise the ancient port on the mouth of Indus River.
According to Shah, coal reserves in Thar were so great that the coal could be exported. He added that a road network from Keti Bander to the Motorway and National Highway was being developed which would also help to transport important items to the upcountry.
KFH cannot harbour more boats
It was pointed out that Karachi Fish Harbour has been crowded with fishing boats and currently at a point where it cannot accommodate more boats. Listening to this, CM said that he was working to functionalise KFH fully, so that the growing load of the Karachi Fish Harbour could be reduced. He further said that the fishing boats would be given facilities at Korangi Fish Harbour and an Auction Hall would be developed there so they could auction their catch then and there.
Shah urged Shaikh to launch some projects for the welfare and rehabilitation of fishermen in the coastal belt of the province. The ports assured of working on this proposal.
Shah said that the federal minister was a leading industrialist of Karachi therefore he must help him with the development of the industrial sector in the city and bring in more investment. Shaikh committed that he would work with him for the development of the industrial sector in Karachi, Thatta and Hyderabad.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 6th, 2024.
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