KPT to get its encroached lands vacated: Zaidi

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi on Tuesday said that the encroached lands  of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) would be retrieved, as planning  was underway to compensate affected people with the provision  of alternative residences.

Addressing the 6th meeting of National Assembly Standing  Committee on Maritime Affairs chaired by its Chairman MNA Mir  Amer Ali Khan Magsi, the minister said that illegal truck stands  established at some of the KPT lands would also be moved in  collaboration with the Government of Sindh.

Syed Ali Zaidi apprised the meeting that some investors had  expressed interest to invest in the Special Economic Zone planned  to be established by the KPT.

The minister also briefed the Standing Committee on making  Karachi clean under the programme "Let us Clean Karachi" and in  this regard heaps of garbage had been cleaned and drainages all  over the city had been opened with the help of the KPT.

Earlier KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar briefed the  committee that the KPT was planning to set up a Special Economic  Zone, LNG Complex at PDWP, and also an  environment-friendly  multi-purpose bulk cargo terminal at East Wharf.

He further said KPT freight corridor from PDWP to Bin Qasim area  to be dedicated for cargo transport with rail and road provision  and a wetland park with sewerage treatment plant.      About the working strength of the KPT, he said that out of total  strength of 4,727, 355 officers and 4,372 other employees, were  presently working in the KPT.

The chairman also briefed the meeting about the port's geography,  channel length, channel depth, dry cargo berths, ship movements, float  cart, functioning of Port Security Force and about the facilities  being provided at the port.

The Standing committee expressed concerns over allotment of plots  and asked the KPT to initiate action against encroachments over its  lands.

Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar said that the KPT had earned profit of  Rs. 3 billion last year.

The Standing Committee recommended that the dollar facility account  should be given to the KPT for the procurement of shipping vessels and  tugs.

Standing Committee Chairman Mir Amer Ali Khan Magsi, on the occasion, formed a sub-committee for the KPT issues, including land disputes, encroachments and other matters.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Abdul Qadir Patel, Faheem Khan,  Kesoo Mal Kheeal Das, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, Nuzhat Pathan, Mir Khan Muhammad Jamali, Usama Qadri, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Kamal Uddin, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon, Muhammad Yaqoob Sheikh, Saif Ur Rehman, Jam Abdul Karim Bijar, Director General Ports and Shipping and senior officers of the KPT.