ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Maritime, Port and Shipping has taken serious notice of unjustified payment of additional design fee of Rs 30.6 million to M/s Atkin International and M/s Techno Consult International Karachi by Karachi Port Trust.
Sources told Customs Today that the ministry observed that the design study for the work was already completed by M/s Scott Wilson and thereafter the BOQ of the work was formulated. The ministry is also of the view that Karachi Port Trust did not properly analyzed the original design in accordance with their requirement, and due to carelessness of the Karachi Port Trust the design was changed with additional cost which resulted in loss to trust.
Tje Karachi Port Trust plead that the design of the berths 10-17 was carried out in 2006/07 by M/s Scott Wilson in association with M/s Zaheerud Din Consultants. At the time, no provision was considered to carter to turning circle for maneuvering bigger vessels and ships, thus the design was prepared for straight quay wall length. Later, on when turning circle was completed it was proposed that the turning circle will be established in front of Berth No 17 during reconstruction of Berths No 15-17 A, than a tentative plan was prepared to accommodate the turning circle and more berthing of 400 meter was added.
Karachi Port Trust admitted that in the original design no provision for turning circle was considered and subsequently the design task of the turning circle was given to the supervisory consultant. Ministry has recommended that responsibility may be fixed for not analyzing the important aspect of turning circle at the time of preparing original design.
