KARACHI, June 13: Secretary Ministry of Ports and Shipping Saleem Khan on Friday visited the Karachi Port to review the progress made by the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on reconstruction of berths at East Wharf.

During the presentation session, he was briefed that a Korean company Ssangyong was assigned the reconstruction work of berths.

He was informed that the detailed designing of berths 10 – 14 has cost Rs70 million and their reconstruction would cost Rs5.5 billion. Two of these berths will be ready by June next year and the remaining three by March 2010.

The secretary was further told that after reconstruction, the berths will have 16 meters depth which would enable the port to handle large vessels.

Saleem Khan was also briefed about Pakistan Deep Water Container Port at Keamari Groyne and other projects under way along with those which the KPT has already accomplished. The secretary congratulated Mrs Nasreen Haque on becoming the first lady chairperson of the KPT.