Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz says that Port Qasim handled 42 per cent of the country's cargo this year, according to a Pakistan News Service report.This figure looks set to rise as the port is currently undergoing work to deepen the navigation channel to 14 metres to be able to accommodate the larger container vessels of tomorrow. This among other things is expected to reduce the cost of doing business at the port.
The Prime Minister also called on Port Qasim to establish industrial zones to boost economic development.To this end, the port's chairman said major projects being planned for 2006-2010 include the Diamond Bar Island City, Textile City, World Trade Centre and establishment of desalination plants, an industrial park, downstream steel units and coal power project. He said as part of future development plans the number of terminals/berths at the port will be increased by nine, with additional berths having capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum. By 2010, Port Qasim will have a second container terminal, second iron ore and coal berth, grain and fertilizer terminal, coal and clinker/cement terminal, LPG terminal and second oil terminal to increase annual handling capacity by 161 per cent.