At least four moorings, abandoned by Pakistan Navy (PN) over a decade ago, in 1994, had been hindering operation of a $5 million liquid cargo terminal at Port Qasim for the last one year, Business Recorder learnt on Sunday. However, according to sources, after months of hectic efforts Port Qasim Authority (PQA) last week removed one of the four moorings from its navigational channel.
They said that PQA was spending Rs 77.90 million on removal of the moorings that comprise at least four underwater sinkers and an equal number of buoy chains. "The removal of these years-old moorings is not only vital for PQA, but also for the economy of Pakistan," said a PQA official. The naval remnants, sources said, have been a major stumbling block for all sorts of developmental projects relating to the navigational channel. Most prominent example is the long-awaited liquid cargo terminal project, which involves million-dollar investment by FWQ Enterprise.
The moorings are located in the navigation channel in front of Marginal Wharf, Berth No-1, and are a potential hurdle in the way of PQA's Rs 10.3 billion Channel extension project, sources said. "Port Qasim was facing great problem, especially due to some sinkers settled at the bottom in the area allocated to FWQ Enterprise for liquid cargo terminal," said a PQA official.
He said that MEW Limited, a local company which is using dredgers and air balloons, had succeeded in removing one mooring. It would also dig out the remaining three in the next three months. He said that PQA had invited tenders at least three times, in which the lowest bidders had quoted Rs 310 million, Rs 90 million and Rs 77.90 million, respectively. Due to the difficult nature of the project, PQA awarded the contract to MEW on 'No-cure-No-Pay' basis, said sources.
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