ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defence Production Monday appreciated performance of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works (KSEW) and efforts for its capacity building.
The committee meeting, chaired by Khawaja Sohail Mansoor, observed that it was heartening to note that the Shipyard was not only fulfilling its financial needs but also became a profit-earning entity of the country. “We highly appreciate the role of Minister for Defence Production, Chief of Navel Staff and KSEW Managing Director for making the institution as a profitable industry,” Khawaja Sohail said.
KSEW Managing Director Rear Admiral Syed Hasan Nasir Shah briefed the body about capacity building strategy of the strategic organization and achievements made by it.
He said the shipyard was engaged in sufficient repair work orders from both the government and commercial sides, adding “The facility is booked till March and April next year and further bookings for repair orders would be made after these dates.”
The MD said KSEW was meeting its financial requirements on its own and earning profit for last ten years. He said the organization was in the process of installing Ship Lift and Transfer System (SLTS), associated machinery and equipment to provide docking and repair facilities to surface ship and commercial vessels of upto 7,781 tonnage.
The project is scheduled to be completed in December 2018 at a cost of Rs9,563 million and so far 60 percent work has been completed with Rs4,527.393 million expenditure, he added.
The MD KSEW said the project would help increase the shipyard’s capacity manifold as it would have 12 parking and workstations against the existing capacity of berthing three ships at a time.
He informed the committee that around 50,000 ships were passing along the Pakistan’s coastline every year, carrying different goods and 40 percent oil shipment of the international market.
He said Pakistan had 100 platforms in its waters but lacking the docking facility, which made it unable to extend repair and other facilities to the ships passing along the sealine. Following the briefing, the committee recommended that requisite (lump sum) funds for KSEW for the years 2016-17 and 2017-18 for SLTS project be released on priority.
It also recommended that the committee in its next meeting would discuss the establishment of new Shipyards at Karachi Port Qasim and Gawadar Port.
The committee decided that Secretaries Ministries of Finance and Revenue, Planning and Development, Ports and Shipping, besides Chairmen/Secretaries Gawadar Development Authority and Karachi Port Qasim would be invited in the meeting. Muhammad Khan Daha said increased activities at the Karachi Shipyard and establishment of such facilities at the Port Qasim and Gwadar deepsea port would help further strengthen national economy and create more job opportunities in the country.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Muhammad Khan Daha, Dr Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, Chudhary Hamid Hameed, Bhawan Das, Amra Khan, Iffat Liaqat, Asyia Nasir, senior officers of the Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP), KSEW and Ministry of Planning and Development.
