PSA unable to construct dirty cargo terminal

KARACHI - The Master Plan of Gwadar port does not allow its operator Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) to construct any terminal for dirty cargo at the port. The Nation has learnt that according to the Master Plan of the Gwadar port, the construction of shipyard, dirty cargo and oil city could be built only in Sur Bandar area which is some 20 kilometers away from Gwadar port. So, the governments reportedly decision of allowing PSA to construct a multi-purpose terminal for ore and coal berths at the Gwadar Port, with an estimated cost of $130 million, is surely against the Master Plan of the port. The sources informed that PSA has failed to bring any ship to the port since 15th January this year which shows its inability to run the port efficiently, therefore, the decision of the government to let PSA construct a terminal is unhealthy one. It has been reported that PSA has started work on the project and officials of the authority are preparing results for channel testing being done recently while soil survey and testing will likely to be completed in around two months. Taking the poor efficiency of the operator as it has failed to bring any investment and business to the port in more than 2 years, this move of the government would surely get bounced in the coming years, sources added. The construction of a terminal for dirty cargo is not legal as space for this purpose has been designated in the Master Plan which is at Sur Bandar, sources reasoned. Acting Chairman Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) Ghulam Farooq when contacted said 'ore and coal are not dirty cargo, and the said project was there in the Master Plan but it got late due to the late issuance of NOC by the Ministry. He said this project is meant for 900 meters extension of the current terminal and this was part of the Master Plan. It is pertinent to mention that National Assembly and Senates Standing Committees on Ports and Shipping last month scolded PSA for its poor performance during a joint session at Gwadar. Chairman National Assemblys Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping in the session asked the Minister Ports and Shipping if he was satisfied with the performance of PSA and the Minister replied that he is not. Considering such dissatisfaction of the Minister it is quite astonishing that the ministry has issues NOC to PSA for constructing a terminal for dirty cargo against the clauses of the Master Plan, sources said.