Seaports of Pakistan

[UnitedPakistan]

Well I believe Gwadar should be a tax-free port for the next 10 years to speed up development.

[Jibran]

Originally Posted by UnitedPakistan

Well I believe Gwadar should be a tax-free port for the next 10 years to speed up development.

Gwadar port is tax free for next 40 years

[siamu maharaj]

Originally Posted by Karachiite

A tax-free port doesn't make any sense. Why should any city, Karachi or any other, get preferential treatment over the rest of the country?

It's not like Pakistan doesn't need the tax revenue. The best thing is to have a uniform tax structure throughout the country that is fair to everyone.

By the way, Karachi being the cash cow, there is zero chance of it’s getting tax-free status, so the question is moot.

The highest growth economies didn't achieve their success because of tax-free status but because of other reasons - correct policies, political stability, safe environment, good infrastructure, educated workforce etc. These things are lacking in Pakistan, and this is where the government needs to concentrate.

I'd disagree with you there. A lot of places give incentives to lure business. I know Delaware does, Singapore was a free port which turned it into what it's now. Dubai has Jebel Ali Free Zone. There's a long list of such zones and incentives.

[zees]

i m with tax-free port

[Abid Siddiqui]

I dont agree with tax free port

the rate of taxes should be minimized and procedure to be made simple

[thePakMan]

Originally Posted by Abid Siddiqui

I dont agree with tax free port

the rate of taxes should be minimized and procedure to be made simple

Well said

[Gumnaam]

NO!

As karachiite already said, little or no chance for Karachi port getting tax free status + it already is saturated, what it needs now in not tax free status but good infrastructure and business friendly policies.

Instead grant tax free status to Gwadar port to speed up the development there which our government already did.

Gwadar port to remain tax free for the next 40 years!

[siamu maharaj]

I don't get this saturated port BS. No, it's not. It's a tiny port compared to other ports in the world. It'll just expand to cater to more load.

[UnitedPakistan]

Originally Posted by Umais

I don't get this saturated port BS. No, it's not. It's a tiny port compared to other ports in the world. It'll just expand to cater to more load.

It is one of the top 10 largest cities in the world!

[Gumnaam]

Originally Posted by Umais

I don't get this saturated port BS. No, it's not. It's a tiny port compared to other ports in the world. It'll just expand to cater to more load.

Why? What is said isn't hardcore algebra, or is it?

Karachi port in its present capacity is already saturated.

By good infrastructure, I mean port expansion and good transit routes.

And Karachi port needs good business friendly policies to attract more business more than trax free status or any thing else for that matter.

[siamu maharaj]

Originally Posted by UnitedPakistan

It is one of the top 10 largest cities in the world!

I was talking about the port, not the city!

[UnitedPakistan]

Originally Posted by Umais

I was talking about the port, not the city!

You can't talk about the port and not the city!

[siamu maharaj]

Originally Posted by UnitedPakistan

You can't talk about the port and not the city!

I just did!

[UnitedPakistan]

Originally Posted by Umais

I just did!

[KB]

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has decided to award the tender for reconstruction of five berths to a Korean firm at a cost of Rs5.5 billion, a senior KPT official told The News on Thursday.

Depth of berths 10 to 14 would also be increased from current 10.5 metres to 16 metres to enable handling of larger ships and bring down shipping freight cost, said Brig (Retd) Syed Jamshed Zaidi, General Manager Planning and Development Department of KPT.

“The tender will be awarded in next few days for the first phase of reconstruction,” he said, explaining the renovation of remaining non-operational berths 15 to 17 would be carried out in the second phase.

Since berths 10 and 14 collapsed during the recent downpour, the dilapidated status of a great part of the wharf has come under media spotlight. The KPT has a total of 30 berths.

Zaidi said cargo loading and unloading activity had been stopped through berths 10 to 17. “These (eight) berths are over 40 years’ old and reconstruction will add another 40 to 50 years to their life.”

The reconstruction of the berths would be completed in two years, which would increase the capacity of the port to handle expected rise in cargo traffic, he said.

While Zaidi insisted that berth occupancy was 50 to 55 per cent and closure of some of the berths would not slow down trade activity through the port, shipping agents say otherwise.

“That must be the average figure for the whole year,” said Rasheed Abro, Vice Chairman Pakistan Ships’ Agents Association (PSAA). “On any given day, there will be six ships waiting for their turn to be moored at a berth. You can imagine the congestion.”

Painting a drastic picture, he said the closure of the berths would leave a lasting impact on trade and economy of the country.

“In a few days, import of fertiliser has to be started. Congestion at the port may delay its timely delivery to the farmers.”

He insisted that the poor condition of the berths had been brought to the knowledge of the KPT administration time and again, but no step was taken to reinforce the weak foundations supporting the wharf structures.

[moved_on]

http://news.aaj.tv/news.php?pg=2&show=detail&nid=84800

[thePakMan]

Deep water port accord to be inked today



By By our correspondent
11/8/2007
KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), Hong Kong are expected to sign a high-profile concession agreement on Pakistan Deep Water Container Port on Thursday (today) in Islamabad.

The meeting is expected to be attended by President General Pervez Musharraf, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri, senior officials of the KPT and Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH). A KPT press release said that the KPT is setting up a new harbour enclave called “Pakistan Deep Water Container Port” (PDWCP) at the mouth of the present harbour, east of Keamari Groyne.

In the first phase, a 1,500 meter quay wall is being built to establish the first deep water container terminal in the country and the region with a designed depth of 18 metres. The concession has been awarded to Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) of Hong Kong, which has 35 years of experience and has 257 berths in 45 ports of 23 countries. The concession is being awarded on Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis for the initial lease of 25 years. The total cost of the Phase-I of the project is estimated at US$1 billion.

The project is a public-private partnership venture with KPT to invest $450 million for infrastructure development and the HPH will invest $557 million. The contract guarantees an income of $1.14 billion to the KPT over the 25 years lease period irrespective of the quantum of through put container traffic.

The KPT’s investment would, therefore be paid back in six years. Based on the projected business plan, the KPT should receive $3.5 billion during the tenure of the entire concession period and it has planned to hand over the first berth to HPH by 2009 and the subsequent berths at fixed intervals. The first ship is planned to arrive at the new terminal by 2010.

[thePakMan]

According to Wikipedia Pakistan has four ports.

Keti Bandar (Urdu: کیٹی بندر) is a port at Arabian Sea in Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan.

Keti Bandar was one of the richest ports of the region. The residents of Keti Bandar proudly claim that this port granted a loan to Karachi Municipal Committee during nineteenth century. This is no more in operation since 1935. Now not even the ruins of the port are visible due to sea erosion. Most of the inhabitants believe that Keti Bandar is actually the port of Debal where Muhammad bin Qasim along with his army arrived through ships from Iraq. Dibla tribe settled at Keti Bandar which justifies their claim to some extents.

The ports of coastal belt of Thatta are Keti Bandar, Bagan, Kharo Chhan etc. and are located 160 kilometres south east from Karachi.Keti bandar was once a thriving river port in the indus river delta in southern pakistan,with impressive public buildings,a customs office and warehouse for exports. Today it can barely stay above water.Sea waves lash aginst its protective embankments on three sides,leaving only a thin ,2km long isthmus by way of a land bridge to the mainland. And the water levels keep rising. Two years ago,the high tide barely came up to the ruins of a rice mill located just outside the town.Now that has been completely submerged.The signs of a prosperous past are still visible,such as the crumbling pillars of a vast villa that belonged to a Hindu village head. But all the remains on island today are a few hundred fishermen's huts,made of straw-mat walls and thatched roofs.

[musiddiqui]

8/Nov/07


Photo caption: #1 & #2 John Meredith (front right), Group Managing Director of HPH and Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat (front left), Chairman of Karachi Port Trust, are signing the concession agreement for the first phase of Pakistan Deep Water Container Port. The ceremony is presided over by General Pervez Musharraf (middle, back), President of Pakistan, Senator Babar Khan Ghauri (President's right), Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping of Pakistan and James Tsien, Group Executive Director of HPH.

[November 8, 2007 - Hong Kong] Hutchison Port Holdings ("HPH"), the world's leading port investor, developer and operator, is pleased to announce that it has signed an agreement with Karachi Port Trust to build a new container terminal in Keamari Groyne.

The new terminal will be the first phase of the latest Pakistan Deep Water Container Port ("the Port") in Karachi. HPH was chosen as the winning bidder for the project last month. The concession-signing ceremony was presided over by General Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan.

Karachi New Port Container Terminals, the newly established joint-venture company, will build and manage the new container-handling facility over a concession period of 25 years, extendible for another 25 years. The new terminal is expected to be operational in 2011.

Commenting on the new port project, John Meredith, Group Managing Director of HPH, said, "Pakistan's economy has grown significantly over the past five years, achieving solid GDP growth and double-digit cargo volume increase. This growth is expected to continue due to a strong economy that has enhanced the country's trade activities in the region and resulted in the steady growth of cargo movement in Karachi. Through the development of Karachi New Port Container Terminals, HPH will strengthen its services to global carriers and shippers with the capability of handling the largest container ships afloat, while ensuring the Port's premier status within Pakistan."

Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat, Chairman of Karachi Port Trust said, "The development of Pakistan Deep Water Container Port is a significant event in the region being the deepest port, catering for the next generation of container ships. We are glad that HPH is partnering with us in this mega project and have full confidence that HPH, being a major terminal operator in the world, would ensure its success."

Upon completion, Karachi New Port Container Terminals will have four berths with a total quay length of 1,500 metres, a yard area of 85 hectares and depths alongside up to 18 metres.

- END -




Source: Hutchison Port Holdings

[siamu maharaj]

Let's keep the money coming!