KARACHI: Gwadar Port will be made fully functional in the next five months, said Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Kamran Michael on Thursday at the inaugural session of the 3rd International Conference and Exhibition on Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain Management 2013.

Almost 60 per cent of development work with specific reference to road infrastructure has been completed at the site, he told the participants of the event which was organised by the Publicity Channel in collaboration with the Ministry of Ports & Shipping, Pakistan International Freight Forwarding Association, Pakistan Shipping Agents Association and Air Cargo Agents Association.

“The port will connect Gulf region and the Middle-East to Southeast Asia and is equally vital for national growth and in securing economy of Pakistan,” said the minister.

“We are going to buy four oil tankers for our fleet after which we will be able to extend fleet of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) up to 15 by the end of this year,” he said.

The minister on the occasion also announced that the ship breaking industry is being moved to Port Qasim for which 170 acres of land has been earmarked and development work is being carried on. About 3000 industries are being moved to Port Qasim while an uninterrupted electric supply will be ensured there for which 500 megawatt electricity will be produced through coal plant.

The British government will also help in producing another 600 mega- watt with solid waste at Karachi Port, he added.—APP