Country’s biggest port starts test operations
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KARACHI: Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP), the country’s biggest port, started test operations on Friday by accommodating the first container ship, APL Japan.
Official sources said the vessel took along side berth No. 4 of the port at 3pm for loading around 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of export cargo.
However, the vessel having a draft of 12 metres and an overall length of 262 metres is a small vessel for a big port like the PDWCP, which has a designed draft of 18 metres and operational draft of 16 metres.
The port, located at Keamari groyne east of Karachi Port, has the capacity to handle mother ships.
The APL Japan first called at Karachi International Container Terminal, West Wharf Karachi Port, and unloaded containers of import cargo and later shifted to the PDWCP, sources said.
Sources said that keeping in view safety factors in mind, a small vessel has been deliberately selected for test operations. They hoped that the PDWCP would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the third week of January.
Moreover, using a smaller vessel also provided an opportunity to the terminal operator to experience and check possible flaws.
The vessel came from Jebel Ali, a deep port located in Dubai, and will leave on Saturday (today) at 2pm for China via Colombo Port, Sri Lanka. This indicated that the port may play a major role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the sources added.
Under the first phase of development, the terminal operator, South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT), has constructed berths No.3 and 4 while berths No. 1 and 2 would be taken up for completion under the second phase.
A spokesman for SAPT, owned and operated by Hutchison Ports of Hong Kong, said it has invested around $600 million. The terminal operator has already brought in equipment, including five ship-to-shore gantry cranes.
Besides, the terminal operator has also completed three building blocks to be used for administration, customs and canteen. A power station with a generation capacity of 28 megawatts is also ready.
The port has the capacity to handle 3.1m TEUs a year and have a storage yard to accommodate 550,000 TEUs a year, sources said.
Published in Dawn December 10th, 2016
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Comments (73) Closed
Dec 10, 2016 08:07am
Bangladesh building 4 deep seaports at different suitable locations in the Bay of Bengal coast (Patenga, Sonadia, Matarbari and Payra).
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Dec 10, 2016 08:42am
Bangladesh building 4 Deep Sea Ports.
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Dec 10, 2016 09:36am
Fantastic news.
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Dec 10, 2016 09:43am
Well done
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Dec 10, 2016 09:44am
@M. Emad Building for WHOME ?
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Dec 10, 2016 09:49am
An improvement
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Dec 10, 2016 09:51am
@M. Emad Let us know when they're built.
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Dec 10, 2016 09:52am
@M. Emad Keep building and let us know when they're operational like Karachi.
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Dec 10, 2016 09:56am
very good news
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Dec 10, 2016 09:58am
@M. Emad Good for Bangladesh but what it has to do Pakistan Deep sea port?
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Dec 10, 2016 10:01am
People are unaware that a mega structure has been constructed in Pakistan. Congratulations.
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Dec 10, 2016 10:20am
Rebirth of Pakistan?
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Dec 10, 2016 10:25am
Its only a start and look how Pakistan is going to rise and shine. It's not an easy path since SOMEONE is busy day and night plotting to harm everything good happening to Pakistan. Well done and keep it up Pak-China friendship.
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Dec 10, 2016 10:37am
Great news as pakistan need to get stronger in all aspects w/o depnding on tghe colonist. They need to make sure to keep them out.
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Dec 10, 2016 10:40am
Congratulation Pakistan.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:04am
@M. Emad - They better build 400 because there is deep water in every street there.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:08am
Wonderful style of work. In silence, announcing success only when things are ready for work. In contrast with what happens in neighboring countries- including Bangladesh.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:16am
I am so proud to be a part of this project (as an engineer), It will be a game changer for region.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:42am
@M. Emad , So what we care? We are concerne about Pakistan. These are in addition to Gawdar Port .
Good news a d it shows the HK company see potential to spend$600 Millions in this project.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:42am
@M. Emad: Bangladesh has its own design of priorities and are 1000 miles away from us. So, get your geography right. Salams
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Dec 10, 2016 11:47am
Development in Pakistan increases happiness in me.
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Dec 10, 2016 11:49am
@M. Emad India has more then that. But CPEC is going to make only 2 ports heavier in Use then more port in any country in the region.
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Dec 10, 2016 12:20pm
Well done.
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Dec 10, 2016 12:31pm
@M. Emad did someone asked about this information. The topic is about karachi port.
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Dec 10, 2016 01:57pm
@M. Emad LOL so? still greater distance
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Dec 10, 2016 02:02pm
@M. Emad Good for them. They can now use those ports to send shiploads of illegal immigrants to Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia etc.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:00pm
Good to know about Kaemari deep water port with designed depth of 18 metres. Communications and education are the foundation stones for economic and social development of a country.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:12pm
Ultimate capacity of 3.1 million TEUs when all four berths would be commissioned is pretty decent for Pakistan's trade size. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port, India's largest for container traffic, has capacity of 6 million, total capacity in India for container handling is ~10 million TEUs. Total capacity (including bulk and liquid) is ~850 million tonnes across 12 major ports.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:10pm
@M. Emad thank you for this information, but please don't imply that deep sea ports in Bangladesh and Pakistan are mutually exclusive to each other. Secondly, deep sea ports are very much needed economically, and it is high time Bangladesh started building them without further delay.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:15pm
@M. Emad it is good to see in you an avid Bangladeshi reader of Dawn, and it makes me feel very proud of Dawn, even though sometimes your comments seem in bad taste. Please keep reading Dawn and posting your comments, anyways.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:20pm
@M. Emad Bangladesh is 22% the size of Pakistan with the same population, almost. Huge population burden...though we wish Bangladesh good luck.
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Dec 10, 2016 02:27pm
dear deep sea port seems normal now ,, but location really matters
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Dec 10, 2016 02:45pm
@N.S Karachi Rightly noted. I also pray for Bangladesh. It's indeed a beautiful country.
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Dec 10, 2016 03:33pm
@M. Emad: Even 100 midget cannot equal a real giant.
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Dec 10, 2016 03:48pm
@shoaib
Well done!
Congratulations!
Every reason to be proud...
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Dec 10, 2016 04:20pm
GOOD NEWS LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
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Dec 10, 2016 04:24pm
MashaAllah, Congratulations
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Dec 10, 2016 04:33pm
@M. Emad good for Bangladesh, keep it up progress we want to see Bangladesh a prosperous country as well as our beloved Pakistan. but keep away from Indian dirty politics.
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Dec 10, 2016 04:40pm
Pakistan has resources but this country is still amongst the poorest countries. Nothing will work unless the deep-rooted corruption is eliminated from the country on urgent basis.
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Dec 10, 2016 04:53pm
Sorry Mr Modi - your strategy of isolating Pakistan and hamper its economic growth does not seem to be working
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Dec 10, 2016 04:54pm
Super
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Dec 10, 2016 05:14pm
@M. Emad "Bangladesh building 4 deep seaports at different suitable locations in the Bay of Bengal coast (Patenga, Sonadia, Matarbari and Payra)."
So what is your point? What do we have to do with a distant country with no cultural and ethnic like ? You might as well have drawn comparison with Guinea Bissau. We in Pakistan do not think much about Bangladesh
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Dec 10, 2016 05:14pm
@M. Emad "Bangladesh building 4 deep seaports at different suitable locations in the Bay of Bengal coast (Patenga, Sonadia, Matarbari and Payra)."
So what is your point? What do we have to do with a distant country with no cultural and ethnic like ? You might as well have drawn comparison with Guinea Bissau. We in Pakistan do not think much about Bangladesh
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Dec 10, 2016 05:19pm
Very good news.
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Dec 10, 2016 05:31pm
@SAM That's his hobby - Comparing everything that Pakistan does with what Bangaladesh does
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Dec 10, 2016 05:32pm
@M. Emad ,
Emad Sahab,good to know about Bangladesh,whatever happened in past thats history and forgive us,we have nothing against our religious brethren but best wishes in the same way and I know and hope also the Bangladeshis have same feeling and that is why you read DAWN,so,all the best to you and I hope you have the same feeling toward us also.
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Dec 10, 2016 05:35pm
Karachi should have been, by now, an international trading point like Shanghai, Singapore and Dubai had it not been for the blind self serving politicians.
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Dec 10, 2016 05:42pm
@imp3 "@M. Emad , Emad Sahab,good to know about Bangladesh,whatever happened in past thats history and forgive us,we have nothing against our religious brethren "
For God sake lets just cut this religious brethren mantra. Let's just move on. If these folks are stuck in past , its their problem, let them chase ghosts from the the past. There is no reason to ask forgiveness from these people.
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Dec 10, 2016 05:44pm
Karachi port has plenty of excess capacity which is why Pakistan businesses have never promoted Gwadar which will likely end up an expensive White Elephant. That's not something that get much attention in Pakistan because the politicians have tried to make Gwadar a focal point of CPEC.
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Dec 10, 2016 06:05pm
@M. Emad its nice to see u read dawn but please stop making unwanted comparisons between the two countries. We wish BD a prosperous future as we have moved on. Its time you too should do the same
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Dec 10, 2016 06:10pm
@dilip Virani .thanx buddy
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Dec 10, 2016 06:42pm
Great. Let the trade in the region flourish and generate jobs and livelihood for the massess
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Dec 10, 2016 06:58pm
@N.S Karachi: Correction. Bangladesh with 57,000 sq miles is just 16,5% of Pakistan, 342,000 sq.miles, including Azad Kashmir and GB.
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Dec 10, 2016 07:09pm
@M. Emad and how Bangladesh building it's ports is relevant to this article? It's great to see CPEC is shaping up nicely. :)
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Dec 10, 2016 08:00pm
@M. Emad you forgot to mention Bangladesh foreign reserves, growth rate, FDI, ... Pakistan has 1.5 times the economy of Bangladesh. With similar population, you do the math and tell us who is better off. We manufacture aircraft, have nukes, build ICBMs, run nuclear reactors, ...
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Dec 10, 2016 08:43pm
Great!
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Dec 10, 2016 08:45pm
@M. Emad Bangladesh is not building 4 deep sea port, rather these are the 4 prospective location where Bangladesh can build its first deep seaport. They are no way near to starting working on it. Best of luck with that
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Dec 10, 2016 09:01pm
First real improvement at Keamari or West Wharf since its birth in 1918.
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Dec 10, 2016 10:33pm
@M. Emad .. What we have do with it..???
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Dec 10, 2016 10:36pm
@imp3 ... We are having millions of Bengalis living in Pakistan especially Karachi...
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Dec 10, 2016 11:43pm
Congratulations Pakistan for another job well done. We should be proud of this accomplishment. I have an advice for all. Can we stop using the words "game changer". We could use other words instead. These words have become ghassa pitta now.
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Dec 11, 2016 12:24am
@M. Emad Please stay away.You only look at your neighbor India.
Pakistan has nothing to do with your four deep sea port.
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Dec 11, 2016 02:26am
@ Masood- Tx. Karachi is a gigantic port and the capacity to grow is just unlimited.. the coast along it the most beautiful in the world. Love my Karachi !!
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Dec 11, 2016 11:11am
One of the good news. There are many mega projects developing which may only be observed while travelling across the country from north to south. One of the positive indicators is the unprecedented bullish trends in the stock index of Pakistan and attraction of more foreign investments to the country. Pakistan, also has achieved better rankings in many of the international economic standards.
However, it is important for the media to atleast, maintain a balance between optimism and the pessimism. Unfortunately, happy news is not lucrative for some renowned media channels.
Rather, they have made many of their viewers addicted to depression by focusing only the most negatives all day long.
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Dec 11, 2016 05:05pm
Well done. Long Live Pak-China friendship and prosperity.
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Dec 11, 2016 05:22pm
@M. Emad Bangladeshi ports are prone to cyclones
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Dec 11, 2016 08:16pm
@Arshad Hussain Khan
"But CPEC is going to make only 2 ports heavier in Use then more port in any country in the region."
is not exactly correct, appreciate your point though. that target with 2 births is just not possible. Gawadar has capacity of 100+ births of 18 meter operation draft those will be developed in time.
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Dec 12, 2016 05:20am
@M. Emad hats even better , they are our brothers /
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Dec 12, 2016 07:04am
@M. Emad Lets focus on our country before worrying about Bangladesh....
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Dec 12, 2016 07:17am
@shoaib
Great!
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Dec 13, 2016 12:52am
Congratulations to Pakistan port authority, keep it up, well done.
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Dec 13, 2016 03:18am
@Kamal Gupta so what are you trying to imply with this information? To you yours to us ours. India is a much larger country with a built up infrastructure left by the British!
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Dec 13, 2016 03:24am
@Khwarezmi it should m would have been had it not been for the corrupt military dictators that have been uprooting the direction of national interests on the one hand & serving the secret agenda of foreign countries on the other!
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