The Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

The Port Muhammad Bin Qasim (Urdu: بندر گاہ محمد بن قاسم‎ Bandar-gāh Muhammad bin Qāsim), also known as Port Qasim, is a deep-waterseaport in Karachi, Pakistan, on the coastline of the Arabian Sea. It is Pakistan’s second busiest port, 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 12,000 acres (49 km²) wherein many industrial zones operate. In addition to the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) andKESC 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.

Amazing sky view of Karachi

Amazing sky view of Karachi

Karachi (Sindhi: كراچي, Urdu: ڪراچی‎, Karāčī, pronounced [kəˈrɑːˌtʃi] ( listen)) is the most populous city of Pakistan and its main seaport andfinancial centre, as well as the capital of Sindh province. The city has an estimated population of 23.5 million people as of April 2013, and a density of nearly 6,000 people per square kilometre (15,500 per square mile).^[7] Karachi is the 3rd-largest city in the world by population within city limits^[8] and the 11th-largest urban agglomeration.^[9] It is Pakistan’s centre of banking, industry, economic activity and trade and is home to Pakistan’s largest corporations, including those involved in textiles, shipping, automotive industry, entertainment, the arts, fashion, advertising,publishing, software development and medical research. The city is a hub of higher education in South Asia and the Muslim world.^[10]

Karachi is ranked as a beta world city.^[11][12] It was the capital of Pakistan until Islamabad was constructed as a capital in order to spread development evenly across the country and to prevent it from being concentrated in Karachi.^[13] Karachi is the location of the Port of Karachi andPort Bin Qasim, two of the region’s largest and busiest ports. After the independence of Pakistan, the city population increased dramatically when hundreds of thousands of Muhajirs from India and other parts of South Asia came to settle in Karachi.^[14]

The city is located in the south of the country, along the coastline meeting the Arabian Sea. It is spread over 3,527 km² (1,362 sq mi) in area.^[15][16] It is known as the “City of Lights” (روشنیوںکا شہر)^[17][18] and “The Bride of the Cities” (عروس البلاد) for its liveliness, and the “City of the Quaid” (شہرِ قائد), having been the birth and burial place of Quaid-e-Azam, the Great Leader, (Muhammad Ali Jinnah), the founder of Pakistan, who made the city his home after Pakistan’s independence from the British Raj on 14 August 1947.

Beautiful sky view of Karachi port

Beautiful sky view of Karachi port

Importance of Gwadar port

Gwadar Port (Photo credit: Haseeb ANSAR)

  According to media news Pakistan is handing over responsibility of its strategic Gawader port to Chinese company .The Gwadar port in Pakistan’s western province of Baluchistan was built in 2007 with the help of Chinese engineers. Total estimated cost of port is more than 1.5 billon dollars. 

After construction Singapore company was running port affairs but after refusal of Singapore company now government has decided to hand over all responsibilities to Chinese company. Experts believe that due to strategic location and vital oil and Gas supply route Gawader port can play vital role in countrys progress and can generate more revenue than Karachi sea port. Experts also believe that due to strategic location and vital sea route Gawader sea port can also develop vital oil sea route among several countries. 

Unfortunately due to worse peace situation in Baluchistan province, lack of government interest and lack of infra structure Gawader port is still not able to play its role in the progress and generate revenue for country falling economy. Some sources in government also fear that progress of Gawader port can minimize value of Karachi sea port. Although US and its allies have serious concern over Pakistan and China relations and recent takeover of Gawader port toChinese company but people of Pakistan are seeing recent step of government in positive direction. Only government keen interest, better facilities, improved infrastructure and more employment opportunities to local people can bring change in Gawader and Gawader sea port can play vital role in country’s economy. 

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ

Jeddah, KSA