Pakistan to upgrade Karachi shipyard

The Pakistan government has decided to upgrade the basic infrastructure for construction of commercial cargo ships and warships, including F-22 P frigates, in Karachi. The government has allocated Rs 483.42 million for the fiscal year 2007-08 and, in view of its strategic importance, it has already dropped Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Limited (KSEW) from its proposed privatization list.

It is envisaged that if shipbuilding projects for the Pakistan Navy, Karachi Port Trust (KPT), Maritime Security Agency (MSA) and Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) are undertaken successfully, then KSEW is likely to get export orders from overseas countries. This would significantly contribute towards earning foreign exchange for Pakistan.

Construction of basic infrastructure for shipbuilding would be completed within 24 months. The project envisages indigenous construction of commercial vessels would be started under the transfer of technology arrangement with China Shipbuilding and trading Company (CSTC). KSEW is the only shipbuilder of its type in Pakistan and, in order to undertake newbuilding projects, it was felt necessary to upgrade various machinery and infrastructure.