Pakistan president backs Keti Bunder port development to boost trade, connectivity
KARACHI: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has backed development of the Keti Bunder port in the southern Sindh province to strengthen the country’s maritime network and boost connectivity and trade, his office said on Monday.
Keti Bunder, located on the Arabian Sea coast some 150 kilometers from Karachi, had been listed among provincial projects under the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) but never advanced beyond the consultation stage, according to CPEC records.
The project has garnered fresh attention following what officials call more than four-time surge in transshipment at the country’s ports since the outbreak of the conflict between the United States and Iran in the Middle East in late February.
Zardari spoke at a presentation on the proposed development of Keti Bunder port by China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) and said the project should be supported by reliable road connectivity, power and water supply, industrial infrastructure and other essential facilities.
“Keti Bunder had significant potential as an additional maritime gateway that could strengthen Pakistan’s port and logistics network and support greater connectivity and trade,” the president said, stressing the need for close technical coordination between Chinese and Pakistani sides.
The development comes weeks after Pakistan’s maritime affairs ministry announced a unified incentive package, offering concessions of up to 80 percent on port charges at Karachi Port and Port Qasim to attract more regional shipping traffic.
The Chinese delegation presented a conceptual master plan for the Keti Bunder port, envisaging a new deep-water maritime gateway with multiple terminals, logistics and supporting infrastructure, according to Zardari’s office. The proposed Phase-I development includes a multi-purpose terminal with a 500-meter quay, with a preliminary cost of $522.34 million, according to Zardari’s office.
The president stressed that environmental sustainability should remain a key consideration, particularly the protection of the fragile ecosystem of the Indus Delta and the interests and livelihoods of local fishing communities, in the development of the Keti Bunder port.
He encouraged continued technical engagement to further refine the master plan and identify an appropriate implementation and financing framework.