KARACHI: Under Prime Minister’s Assistance Package for employees, service of more then 750 contractual staffers of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has been regularised.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Faisal Subzwari, on Tuesday, distributed letters amongst the regularised KPT employees in a ceremony here that was attended by Chairman KPT Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi, trustees, leaders of CBA union and a large number of workers.
Subzwari felicitated the employees and said that longstanding issues of KPT employees were resolved by the administration including regularisation of their services, adjustment of increments and issuance of bonus.
The minister also announced an Rs 20000 Eid bonus for daily wage staffers of KPT, at the occasion.
Now it is the responsibility of the employees, as well as, officers of the trust to work with a renewed zeal and dedication for the growth of KPT, he urged adding that the government was endeavouring to make KPT not only a profit-making organisation but also an efficient entity and employees of the trust could play a pivotal role in the achievement of the objectives.
The minister, highlighting the ministry’s efforts for modernising the port infrastructure and attracting foreign investment, said that a concession agreement has been inked with Abu Dhabi Port Group for the establishment of Karachi Gateway Terminal Limited.
Pakistan would receive $50 million as an upfront payment with 12.5% additional royalty as per the agreement which also included provisions for the development of state-of-the-art terminals, setting up a special economic zone and railway connectivity of KPT and Port Qasim, he informed.
The term of the current 21-year agreement of Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) was about to end and the expiry of the agreement would have left 4 births of the port inoperative, risking jobs of hundreds of workers, he said adding that the government have made timely arrangements not only to secure the jobs of employees but also to ensure much needed foreign investment.
Later responding to media queries, the minister said that KPT does not sell any birth but enters into a concession agreement with private sector entities for operations of births and receives charges and royalties under the agreement.
It was a government-to-government agreement that was reviewed and authenticated by framework development and negotiation committees and later by the federal cabinet after fulfilment of all the necessary procedures and regulations in a transparent manner, he clarified.
Faisal Subzwari said that the government was working with a comprehensive approach consisting of measures for revenue generation, infrastructure improvement, employee welfare and other
initiatives for the development and improvement of ports.
He said that dredging has been carried out after many years at Gwadar Port that is an ideal port for trans-shipment. Negotiations with a foreign company were also under way in this regard, he added.
Chairman KPT, Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi, addressing the ceremony, said that KPT tariff has been revised and it would help in the financial stability of the port trust.
Workers are the backbone of any organisation and resolution of their issues is vital for their welfare, as well as, the growth of the organisation, he noted and felicitated employees on fulfilment of their longstanding demands.
General Secretary United Workers Front CBA Union of KPT, KPT trustee and former MNA Abdul Waseem also spoke at the occasion.
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