GERMAN PARLIAMENTARIAN DELEGATION VISITED KPT
A high profile German Parliamentarian delegation visited the Karachi Port Trust on Saturday, the 18th April 2015, for a briefing cum meeting to gain awareness about avenues offered by the premier port of Pakistan for investments and joint ventures which could mutually benefit both the countries. The delegation of Member Parliamentarians (MPs) from Germany led by Mr Niels Annen with other members Ms Carey Lay, Ms Tabea Rößner, Mr Michael Donth, Mr Thorsten Frei, Prof Dr Egon Jüttner, Mrs Ingrid Brenda Behrmann (conference interpreter), Ms Monika Hein (German Foreign Office) was given a complete briefing on management, administrative areas, functions and present/future projects of KPT. The delegation accompanied by German Ambassador to Pakistan, Islamabad, Mr Cyrill Nunn, Consul General of Germany, Karachi, Dr Tilo Klinner and Consul & Deputy Head of Mission, Karachi, Mr Hans-Jürgen Paschke were briefed by Chairman KPT Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed HI (M) about the role KPT plays in trade and commerce of the nation.
The Chairman KPT, while briefing about the infrastructure of the port, informed that the premier port of Pakistan, the Karachi Port, is well equipped with dredgers, flotilla crafts and has complete infrastructure to facilitate port users. With regards to the depth of Karachi Port channel, the Chairman KPT further informed the delegates about the recently undertaken dredging which has made the port capable of handling 13 meters draught vessels at the port and in the same connection he made the delegates aware of about the future outlook of the port with respect to the commencement of cargo handling activities from bigger post PANAMAX vessels that will call on when the first phase of deep water container port attains completion.
Various projects of KPT came under discussion with respect to their utility for the port to have such capital intensive projects. The delegation showed interest in port facilities and the projects like Elevated Port Expressway, Coal Yard and Cargo Village that are planned by KPT and offers investment opportunities to the German business sector. In their gesture of compliment they welcomed the initiatives of the port and thanked the Chairman KPT Vice Admiral Shafqat Jawed which concluded the proceedings of the day.