KARACHI - Minister for Ports and Shipping Senator Babar Khan Ghauri has said that government is going to construct 3 new births at Gwadar port, while China has shown her interest in the developing works at Gwadar port. He was talking to the media after inaugurating the construction of marine protection and quay wall works of the Deep Water Container Port at Karachi Port today. He said China has also shown interest in developing different projects in various sectors like ports, roads, communication etc. however the projects at KPT would be completed in 2 years time and a straight quay length of 1,500 meters will provide four berths of 375 meters length each. He said that Karachi Port is central to the scheme and that with existing good roads and rail facilities further extended on completion of the new port, there would be greater clearance and connectivity with hinterland. The initiation of construction of marine protection and quay walls works, in the second phase, underlines the speedy ongoing work of the project along with the ongoing dredging and reclamation works. Vice Minister for Transport, Peoples Republic of China, Xu Zuyuan, Speaking on the occasion said that as an Asian developing country, China sees the development of Pakistan with great interest. He said that Chinese people feel profound pleasure when Pakistan treads on the path of progress and development. He said that construction of Deep Water Container Port is in the national interest of Pakistan and that construction of marine protection and quay wall are significant steps taken by Pakistan to make the new port a reality. He complimented the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and said that they are one of the largest marine works contractors in the world and would surely live up to the expectation by completing these projects in time. Earlier, the Chairperson KPT Mrs Nasreen Haque in her welcome address emphasised on the importance of the Deep Water Container Port and the various phases in which these works are being undertaken. She informed that the project costing $1.6 billion will be completed in various phases including Marine Protection Work, Quay Wall Construction Work, dredging and Reclamation Works and Navigational Aids work. Of these the Dredging and Reclamation Work is already underway through a Chinese firm M/s China Water & Electric Company and today KPT is entering in second phase to start the construction of Marine Protection and Quay Wall works, which too has been awarded to another Chinese firm M/s China Harbour Engineering Company Limited having vast national and international experience related to infrastructure and port related developments. She said that the marine protection works envisages providing shelter to the port basin and preventing sediment movements in the basin whereas the construction of quay wall will be providing berths of 16 meters depth initially and finally 18 meters for accommodating Super Panamax vessels. With the completion of the Deep Water Container Port, Karachi Port will be ready to receive and dock larger and mother vessels. The Marine Protection Work includes the construction of 3 breakwaters and a sand dyke. The three breakwaters will be called Keamari Extension, Oyster Rock Breakwater and Manora Breakwater.