The Asian Development Bank has recently initiated "Policy and Technical discussions" with the government of Pakistan on possible ADB support for the development of Port Sector. According to ADB sources, the first priority was to prepare a comprehensive Port Sector Prioritisation Plan that will prioritise investment for the Karachi Port and Port Qasim considering the economic viability and national interests.
This is because plans for channel dredging suggest that both ports are trying to change their role from feeder ports to attracting main line operators.
It is not immediately obvious that both ports would simultaneously be successful in attracting main line operators. Thus, that investment in channel deepening at both ports is economically viable. Once analysis of the demand and potential of both ports is carried out, it would become clearer which investments in the port sector would be economically viable and serve the national interest, the sources added.
Presently, Pakistan has two operational ports: Karachi Port, which is run by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and the Qasim Port which is run by the Port Qasim Authority (PQA). Both the ports are located in Sindh province and are less than 70km apart. In addition, the government is currently developing a new port ie Gwadar Port in Balochistan.
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