Pakistan plans new shipyards

The government of Pakistan is seeking advisory services from internationally qualified firms led by a reputable international financial institution/investment bank for development of shipyards at Port Qasim, Karachi and Gwadar Port. Officials in the planning commission said that the international firms would comprise of requisite technical, legal and other consultants to assist the government in planning, development and implementation of these projects.

The government had approved a plan to establish two new large sized shipyards at Gwadar in Balochistan province “Gwadar Shipyard” and Port Qasim near Karachi in Sindh “Qasim Shipyard” on a fast track basis. The Gwadar Shipyard was planned to be established on an area of approximately 500 acres. Initially planned to carry out ship repairs, it will lead to shipbuilding of up to VLCC and ULCC size tankers and would have at least two dry docks of approximately 600,000 DWT.

Qasim Shipyard was planned to be developed adjacent to Korangi Fish Harbour (Port Qasim area), on an area of 500 acres with at least two dry docks of 600,000 DWT. Main function of this shipyard would be building of large ships up to VLCC/ULCC size and construction of offshore/onshore oil rigs. It would also have ship repair facilities, the officials maintained.

The shipyards were to be developed with minimum financial support from the government. The projects were conceived in a manner, whereby the private sector would be responsible for designing, financing, building, operating and maintaining these shipyards.