KARACHI, Nov 2: The Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP) will start functioning by the end of next year to accommodate mother ships of post-Panamax class, having a length of over 350 metres and loading capacity of 8,000 TEUs (twenty feet equivalent unit).

The PDWCP, being developed at Keamari at an estimated cost of $1 billion, would initially have a draft of 16 feet with a provision of 18 metres to further meet economies of scale and rapid growth in sea-borne cargo of the country.

This was stated by the chairman of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) (retd) Rear Admiral Azhar Hayat in an interview with Dawn in his office.

Though the PDWCP would have a total of 10 berths, initially four berths would start functioning next year where mother ships, having over 350 metres length would start calling which would place Pakistan amongst few countries having deep-water container port.

Responding to a question, the KPT chairman said that marine protection work has fully been accomplished having three breakwaters and a sand dyke.

However, dredging and reclamation faced some delays and up to 76pc of work had been completed, he said, adding work on quay wall has been completed up to 60pc.

When a question was raised that since the PDWCP is almost besieged and marooned and has no direct connectivity with main arteries (roads) of the city, how port would start functioning, Mr Hayat said that a bridge connecting the port through Boat Basin towards Jinnah Bridge would be constructed.

He further stated that by developing new connectivity for the PDWCP through Boat Basin, it would also help reduce congestion on existing roads inside the port area.

He, however, said that there was a provision that in future a harbour crossing bridge would be constructed near oil piers at Keamari and land at Manora from where a connecting road to Northern Bypass would be made.

Since this project needs huge funds of up to $1bn, its construction has temporarily been postponed, he added.

The KPT chairman disclosed that a make-shift coal jetty would be developed at PDWCP and connected with a conveyer belt to the coal yard which is within the vicinity of the port.

Presently, he said the Karachi Port is handling around four million tonnes of coal per annum against an actual capacity of eight million tonnes.

All these measures of enhancing coal handling capacity are being taken after looking into government policy of using coal as a major source for generation of electricity and in the coming years, he said, coal would become one of the biggest bulk cargo items of the port.

He further stated that there are plans to introduce service of fast moving ship to carry perishable goods, like vegetables, fruits and meat from Pakistan to Gulf and the Middle East. Presently most of such commodities, including live animals, are being carried by country boats which take weeks to reach their destinations.

Talking about the capacity building of the existing port, Azhar Hayat said that the KPT has already deepened the draft to 13 metres of berths 10 to 14 at East Wharf and is going to widen the turn circle at berths 15 to 17 so that larger vessels with over 300 metres length could call at the port.

The two container terminals at East and West wharves run by private terminal operators are presently operating at full capacity and KPT is striving hard to increase their backup area so that their capacity could be further increased.

Among bulk cargoes, he said, cement had been one of the major export cargoes and the KPT constructed silos for the storage of cement at the West Wharf.

He, however, said lately some fall had been recorded in cement exports from Karachi Port as higher quantity is presently going on by road to India and Afghanistan.

The chairman KPT said that plans are under way to deepen berths to 13 metres at West Wharf, including those being used by terminal operator.

All efforts are being made to further enhance utilisation of West Wharf where mostly large and bulk cargoes, like plants and machinery and cement, are being presently handled.