Port Qasim
Encyclopedia
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, on the coastline of the Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. It is Pakistan's second busiest port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). Port Qasim and Karachi Port, the busiest port of country, together handle more than 90% of all external trade of Pakistan.
The port encompasses a total area of 12000 acres (48.6 km²) wherein many industrial zones operate. In addition to the Pakistan Steel Mills
Pakistan Steel Mills
The Pakistan Steel Mills, PSM, is the state-owned producer of long rolled steel and heavy iron products in Karachi, Sindh Province of Pakistan. The Pakistan Steel Mill is the country's largest industrial undertaking having a production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of steel...
(PSM) and KESC Bin Qasim Power Plant, around 80% of the Pakistan's automotive industry is located at Port Qasim. The port also provides direct waterfront access to two major nearby industrial areas, Export Processing Zone (Landhi) and Korangi Industrial Area. Approximately 60% of country's export and import is originated from these areas. Port Qasim is managed by Port Qasim Authority, a semi-autonomous government body.
History
In 1970s, as a part of Pakistani Prime MinisterPrime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's program for economic reforms and establishment of heavy industries, country’s first steel mill (Pakistan Steel Mills
Pakistan Steel Mills
The Pakistan Steel Mills, PSM, is the state-owned producer of long rolled steel and heavy iron products in Karachi, Sindh Province of Pakistan. The Pakistan Steel Mill is the country's largest industrial undertaking having a production capacity of 1.1 million tonnes of steel...
) was established near the southern city of Karachi. A purpose-built specialized port facility was also decided to be established for bulk handling of the massive imports of raw materials for steel production by the Pakistan Steel Mill of Pakistan. In addition to the future economic demands and strategic needs, this port was also meant to relieve congestion at the only seaport Karachi Port of the country. This port was named as Port Muhammad bin Qasim (also known as Port Qasim), after the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
general Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim
Muhammad bin Qasim Al-Thaqafi was a Umayyad general who, at the age of 17, began the conquest of the Sindh and Punjab regions along the Indus River for the Umayyad Caliphate. He was born in the city of Taif...
who conquered Daybul and the coastal areas of Sindh around 712 CE.
Location
Port Qasim is located, adjacent to the Bin Qasim town, in the southern part of Malir district, Karachi division, in Sindh. It is located in an old channel of the Indus RiverIndus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
at a distance of 35 kilometers east of Karachi city center.
The geographic position of the Port Qasim places it in close proximity to major shipping routes. The approach to the port is along a 45-kilometre long Navigation Channel which provides safe navigation for vessels up to .
Location of the Port Qasim makes it very well connected to the transportation infrastructure of the country. It is at distance of only 15 km from the national highway, providing direct access to the hinterland through road. A further 14 km of railway track inside the terminal links it to the national railway network through 6 railway tracks. Jinnah International Airport
Jinnah International Airport
Jinnah International Airport is Pakistan's largest international and domestic airport. It is located in Karachi, Pakistan, and its passenger terminal is also commonly known as the جناح ٹرمینل Jinnah Terminal...
is also very near, at a distance of 22 km.
Port Qasim's residential area is a neighborhood of Bin Qasim Town
Bin Qasim Town
Bin Qasim Town is a town located in the southeastern part of Karachi along the Arabian Sea and the Indus River delta. The town and the adjacent Port Qasim are named after Muhammad bin Qasim who conquered large parts of Pakistan in the eighth century CE...
of Karachi.
Land Allocation for Port and Industrial Zones
The total area of the port comprises 3,520 acres (14.2 km²) with an adjacent 8,700 acres (35 km²) industrial estate. Port Qasim has been divided into three main zones as following:| Zone | Total Area (Acres) | Area Reserved for Port Services (Acres) |
Area Reserved for Industrial Use (Acres) |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Western Industrial Zone (NWIZ) | 2,920 | 904 | 2,016 |
| South Western Industrial Zone (SWIZ) | 1,000 | 125.5 | 874.5 |
| Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ) | 8,300 | 2,490 | 5,810 |
| Total | 12,220 | 3,519.5 | 8,700 |
Terminal Facilities
Currently Port Qasim is offering following facilities:| Facility | Berths | Berth Length | Owned by | Deadweight tonnage DWT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multipurpose Terminal | 4 | 200 m | PQA | 35,000 |
| Container Terminal | 2 | 300 m | Qasim International Container Terminal | 45,000 |
| Liquid Chemical Terminal | 1 | TBC | Engro Vopak Terminal Limited | 75,000 |
| Oil Terminal | 1 | TBC | Fotco Oil Terminal | 75,000 |
Night navigation facilities are available at the port, handling up to vessels of LOA 202 meters during night.
Expansion Projects
Port Qasim has planned for a major expansion in coming years with FDIForeign direct investment
Foreign direct investment or foreign investment refers to the net inflows of investment to acquire a lasting management interest in an enterprise operating in an economy other than that of the investor.. It is the sum of equity capital,other long-term capital, and short-term capital as shown in...
of US$ 1.22 billion approximately.
Major expansion projects of the port are as following :
| Project | Capacity | Budget | Completion Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Cargo terminal | 4 million MT/year | US$ 15 million | 2009 |
| 2nd Container Terminal | 1.175 million TEUs/year | US$ 250 million | 2011 |
| GasPort LNG Floating Terminal | 3 million MT/year | US$ 160 million | 2010 |
| Grain & Fertilizer Terminal | 4 million MT/year | US$ 100 million | 2011 |
| Coal, Clinker & Cement Terminal | 8 million MT/year | US$ 180 million | 2011 |
| Granada LNG Terminal | 3.5 million MT/year | US$ 274 million | 2012 |
| 2nd Oil Terminal | 9 million MT/year | US$ 51.4 million | 2012 |
| 2nd Steel Jetty | 8 million MT/year | US$ 150 million | TBC |
| Deepening & Widening of navigation Channel | US$ 150 million | TBC | |
| Construction of a fly over and dual carriage way | Rs. 2 billion | TBC | |
| Infrastructure Development works in Eastern Industrial Zone | Rs. 8.8 billion | TBC | |
| Textile City with Power Plant & Waste Water Treatment Plant | Rs. 8.7 billion | TBC |
Integrated Cargo Container Control (IC3) facility
Country’s first Integrated Cargo Container Control (IC3) facility is being constructed at Port Qasim with a joint investment over US$ 8 million by Pakistan Customs and the US Customs and Border Protection.Purpose of IC3 Programme is to enhance international maritime trade security considering post 9/11 security issues. The IC3 Program envisages joint screening of US-bound containerized cargo from Pakistan via live video link by the customs authorities of Pakistan and the US . The US Customs will not subject the screened cargo to re-examination on arrival at US ports. This facility will support for facilitation for the trade in terms of reduced time and cost for shipments.
Mangrove Forest
Port Qasim is located on the northwest edge of the Indus Delta system. The system is characterized by long and narrow creeks, mud flats and the Indus River Delta-Arabian Sea mangrovesIndus River Delta-Arabian Sea mangroves
The Indus River Delta-Arabian Sea mangroves are a large mangrove ecoregion on the Arabian Sea coast of India and Pakistan.-Location and description:...
, one of the largest mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forest ecosystems found in an arid climate. In 1972 eight species of mangrove trees were recorded from Pakistan , however, only four continue to thrive. Several species of reptiles, birds, and terrestrial mammals inhabit the project area, wherever suitable habitats are found. These are constantly under threat due to increased shipping and industrial activities in the area.
WWF
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States...
Pakistan has taken a mangrove conservation initiative recognizing the social, ecological and economic significance of the mangrove forests in the Costal areas of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
and Balochistan
Balochistan (Pakistan)
Balochistan is one of the four provinces or federating units of Pakistan. With an area of 134,051 mi2 or , it is the largest province of Pakistan, constituting approximately 44% of the total land mass of Pakistan. According to the 1998 population census, Balochistan had a population of...
. As a part of this, initiative has been taken on conservation of the mangrove ecosystem in the Korangi – Phitti Creek system, in the Indus Delta (including Port Qasim area). The project aims to conserve selected degraded mangrove forests in the Korangi – Phitti creek area through involvement of community, local schoolchildren and other stakeholders like Port Qasim Authority and the Government Forest Department.
Tasman Oil Spill 2003 at Karachi Beach
In August 2003, the beach immediately west of the Port Qasim navigation channel was the scene of a major oil spillage when the Greek-registered Tasman SpiritTasman Spirit
The Tasman Spirit is a Greek registered oil tanker. The tanker was launched in February 1979 and was formerly called the Mabini and Kenko....
ran aground. The environmental impact included large numbers of dead fish and turtles and a key mangrove forest, as well as dozens of people suffering nausea. At that time, it was feared that this incident will harm the coastal life in the Port Qasim area, however no major impact was observed near the Phitti Creek (waterway entrance to Port Qasim).
Pollution-free Terminal
Recently Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has announced that an implementation agreement is being signed for the development of a 'pollution free' Coal, Cement and Clinker Terminal (CCCT) worth $175 million with a handling capacity of up to eight million tons per year at port. This step would save the environment from irreparable damages and the health of the port workforce and nearby populations from serious respiratory diseases which would have been a serious threat if the powdery coal was handled in open/bulk on berths at port.See also
- Port of KarachiPort of KarachiThe Port of Karachi is Pakistan's largest and busiest seaport, handling about 60% of the nation's cargo . It is located between the Karachi towns of Kiamari and Saddar, close to the main business district and several industrial areas. The geographic position of the port places it in close...
- Port of Gwadar
- Keti BandarKeti BandarKeti Bandar is a former port on the Arabian Sea, in the Thatta District, Sindh, Pakistan. The port was built on the remains of the older seaport of Debal where Muhammad bin Qasim and his army arrived from Iraq.- See also :* Keti...
- List of seaports
- Bin Qasim TownBin Qasim TownBin Qasim Town is a town located in the southeastern part of Karachi along the Arabian Sea and the Indus River delta. The town and the adjacent Port Qasim are named after Muhammad bin Qasim who conquered large parts of Pakistan in the eighth century CE...
- Buddo IslandBuddo IslandBuddo Island is a small island located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Buddo Island is also known as Dingi by local fishermen. Buddo and Bundal Islands serve as a temporary port for local fishermen. They clean their nets and dry fish on these islands...
- Bundal IslandBundal IslandBundal Island is a small island located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Bundal, pronounced Bhandar by local fishermen, is a twin island of Buddo and lies to its West. On Bundal Island the tomb of Muslim sufi Yusuf Shah is located. The annual urs of 'Yusuf Shah'...
- Port Qasim Authority