Logistics infrastructure to be built: Prime Minister inaugurates new KPT oil pier

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Saturday hinted at building world-class logistics infrastructure, including enhancement and modernisation of ports, highways, airports and railways throughout the country.
The infrastructure would surely attract investors on the one hand and on the other would boost the country's economy, he added.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony Oil Pier-II at Karachi Port lower harbour here, the Prime Minister said that strong and efficient communications infrastructure would help Pakistan meet trade challenges in WTO era.
"The government has to plan an infrastructure which will be part of world-class logistics chain, and that is what we are trying to do. The trajectory, which we see for economic growth in Pakistan is looking very exciting," he said.
Pakistan needs better infrastructure with world-class logistics that include rail and road transportation needs upgradation.
He said, "If you (business community) want to meet international trade, we have to build infrastructure for foreign investment. Investors have choice for other places and you (business community) could not force them (the foreign investors) to invest."
Last year, Pakistan had the growth rate of 8.4 percent, which brought the country's performance in the global limelight offering better investment prospects, he said, and added that the government has a major refurbishing programme of dual tracks, new engines and coaches to provide fast service from Karachi up north and back.
He said, "We have started a fast cargo train, working efficiently, and private sector is encouraged to look into this opportunity."
Shaukat said that the government was planning a highway network between Karachi and up north to cut travel time. This network was nearing completion between Peshawar and Faisalabad and would further move to Multan. From Multan it would come to Sukkur and then o Karachi, he said, adding that this would improve travel time for people and goods.
He said the government was improving the airports and related infrastructure and some major world airlines were coming to Karachi and other cities of Pakistan very soon.
The Prime Minister said the new Islamabad airport would be built by the two leading companies internationally and as being the capital the city deserved a better airport.
"The inauguration of Oil Pier-II is another milestone in the history of Karachi Port Trust (KPT)," he said, adding that this was his fifth visit to KPT in the last 18 months to perform either ground breaking or inauguration of projects.
"The country is paying for every hour delay at the port and this should not be tolerated," he said, adding that with the growing economy the need for petroleum products had also risen.
"We need more oil piers at the port to handle crude and refining capacity so that none of these should become the bottleneck to the momentum we have created for growth," he added.
The government was committed to pursuing policies which would give economic growth. "We believe in private sector playing a major role in economic development."
He noted that Pakistan's economy has moved a long distance in the last six years. "We have reformed, transformed, grown and we have restructured our country and the economy. But we have much more to do. This is just the beginning of a long journey," Shaukat added.
"Despite the oil shock, we have weathered the price rise without a blink in the eye and the people of Pakistan have weathered this and are moving ahead on our path and journey of growth and development," he added.
Pointing to a five-year vision of growth, Shaukat said that it would get Pakistan 3 to 6 percent growth going forward. "We have achieved this in the last two year, and we hope to achieve this in the next three years." With the last year's 8.4 percent growth Pakistan was placed second highest growth country in Asia," he added.
Pakistan was 31st in the world, according to a survey of 130 countries, in terms of reforming and making it easier to do business, he said, adding that this could be challenging, too.
Pakistan's exports registered a growth of 20 percent and imports up by 40 percent and the country needs to provide a comprehensive infrastructure to allow these goods to come back and forth into the country.
The Minister for Ports and Shipping, Babar Ghauri, said the reconstruction of OP-II at a cost of Rs 1.48 billion was a major achievement of KPT.
The Karachi Port, with handling capacity of 66 percent, is one of the most profitable public sector concern. The tasks given by the Government were all well achieved, he added.
Chairman KPT, Vice Admiral Ahmad Hayat also spoke on the occasion and later presented the memento to the Prime Minister.