Upgrading of KS&EW infrastructure: Centre to arrange Rs3.778bn through foreign sources

KARACHI: Federal Government will arrange Rs3.778 billion for "Infrastructure Upgradation of Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KS&EW)" project through foreign sources.

According to a working paper of the project, the project was approved recently by the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) at a cost of Rs7.789 billion. Out of the total cost of the project, federal government would arrange Rs4.010 billion through local sources whereas the rest of the amount Rs3.778 billion would be financed through foreign sources.

The project is in line with the sector development objectives, strategies and priorities which aim at developing port infrastructure to increase ship building /repairing capability as well as upgrade, rehabilitate and maintain existing assets on modern concept and enhance role of private sector and adoption of modern technology.

The upgraded project would contribute significantly towards increasing ship building/repairing capability, reduction of the shipbuilding and repair costs and maintaining of existing assets on modern concept.

The project envisages rehabilitation/upgradation of existing two Dry Dock 1 & 2 for underwater repairs of ships/submarine and testing of submarines after construction, provision of security monitoring and control system for entire shipyard, procurement of four level luffing cranes and one gantry cranes of lifting capacities ranging from 80-tons as replacement of the same number of old and obsolete cranes of 1955, 1964 and 1974 vintage, refurbishment of 157.46 meter south quay wall along with other support structures/civil works, and replacement of steel roof trusses and repair of old infrastructure.

The project would help in safe conduct of docking/undocking operations and security of submarine construction project from sabotage and terrorist attacks.

It would also help in safe working environment for men and major national assets of Pakistan Navy and commercial vessels under repairs/construction and would enhance lifting capacity for construction of ships and submarines thereby reducing overall construction timelines by 25%.

Adoption of modern technology in repairs/construction and security assets would be another objective of this project.

Existing facilities both civil structures and electromechanical equipment are more than 50 years old and require immediate attendance to preserve and improve the national asset.

KS&EW was established in 1956. Since then major upgradation of the yard was undertaken in 2009, when few facilities related to ship building were upgraded. Nonetheless a number of other facilities were left unattended to be undertaken subsequently.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020