Infrastructure & Transport News

[Neo]

Japan extends Rs800m grant for Pasni Fish Harbour

Saturday, July 10, 2010

ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan has extended a grant of Rs800 million for the rehabilitation of Pasni Fish Harbour in Balochistan, an official statement said.

Expressing his gratitude, Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani said the assistance indicated the goodwill gesture from the people and the government of Japan for Balochistan.

Nawab Aslam Raisani extended his formal gratitude during a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador Chihiro Atsumi at the Embassy of Japan.

The Chief Minister said the government of Balochistan had been trying to arrange funding for rehabilitation of the Pasni Harbour built in 1989, which used to provide berthing/calling facilities to 3500 vessels of various sizes. However, he added that with the passage of time, the harbour started silting up and gradually reduced to only 20 per cent of its actual capacity.

The minister said that with the help of this grant, to be provided out of the ‘Counter Value Fund’ maintained by the Federal Government under the Japanese assistance, the provincial government will utilise the funds for the procurement of a dredger; maintenance and dredging of the harbour; and extension and improvement of the breakwater.

It may be recalled that the Japanese assistance came forth after the Chief Minister Balochistan, Nawab Muhammad Aslam Khan Raisani made personal efforts last year, inviting donors for assistance in this project.

Raisani maintained that over 100,000 people had been employed with the Pasni Fish Harbour and expressed hope that its rehabilitation would boost the fishing industry, benefiting the poor fishermen of the area.

The Chief Minister also requested the Ambassador to engage a Japanese firm in the rehabilitation and improvement of the Pasni Fish Harbour, having expertise and state-of-the-art dredging and de-silting machinery and equipment. He offered all possible assistance and the use of the Pasni Airport if any Japanese company shows interest.

Raisani also informed the Japanese Ambassador about vast mineral resources and abundance of seafood in Balochistan, inviting the Japanese investors to explore this potential.

He said Balochistan had one of the biggest copper, silver and gold deposits in the world and there was great scope exploring these reserves through joint ventures.

Japan extends Rs800m grant for Pasni Fish Harbour

[Zaki]

'Chitral to be linked to China after construction of Chitral-Gilgit Road'

CHITRAL (July 13 2010): The government will link Chitral with time-tested friend China by constructing Chitral-Gilgit Road that would make the northern districts of Pakistan a hub of economic investment, said Federal Minister for Communication Arbab Alamgir Khan here on Monday.

He said Chitral-Gilgit Road and Lawari Tunnel will open up Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for investment and would give further impetus to development process in Chitral, Dir, Swat and Malakand Agency, Dr Alamgir Khan remarked.

Addressing a big public gathering at Chitral and Garm Chashma here after starting of his three days visit, he said the completion of these two mega projects will revolutionise the communications sector, enhance trade activities with Central Asian Republics and bring an industrial revolution in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The construction of tunnel will help establish strong road links with Central Asian States and hopefully it would be completed in 2011 at a cost of Rs 17.50 billion.

[Neo]

'Karachi-Hyderabad six-lane Motorway project to be launched'

ISLAMABAD (July 20 2010): Ministry of Labour and Manpower would launch 6-Lane Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (M-9) a 2-year (2011-12) project costing Rs 16.845 billion for which the resources of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) would be utilised.

After a meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Labour and Manpower, Minister Syed Khurshid Shah of PPP told Business Recorder that the Ministry is ready to launch Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway (134.5KM) M-9 project with 25 percent share of National Highway Authority (NHA) to be completed within two years (2011-12) till December 26, 2012.

The Minister said that a total of Rs 65 billion of the EOBI are placed in National Bank. "The investment will benefit employees of EOBI," he said. He said, "EOBI considered the possibility of investing in the Karachi-Hyderabad (M-9) motorway Project for conversion of the existing four lane highway into six lane international standard motorway, as the project had already been approved by the Executive Committee of National Economic Council."

He said that the EOBI would float tenders in August-October 2010 and construction would be started in January 2011. He said that the concession period of this project is 25-year and it would be transferred from M-9 to NHA in January 1, 2036. Khurshid Shah said that a total of 4.2 million EOBI registered members of which 0.4 million are pensioners. He said that figures of pension holders would reach 0.9 million in next 10-year. Minister said that similar projects would be started in Punjab. "The Ministry would also invest on the project of wind energy. For this purpose, we have engaged five consultants of UK, Korea, Australia, US and China," he said.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

[Zaki]

4,317km roads being constructed in Balochistan

QUETTA (July 24 2010): Provincial Minister for Communication and Works Mir Sadiq Umrani has said that construction work of total 4,317 kilometers long roads being carried out in different parts of the province would get completion soon. According to statement issued on Friday, he said that 392 kilometers long roads of total 4,317 km were being constructed in Mastung district.

He noted the federal government was taking adequate steps to bring progress and prosperity in Balochistan with record development works. He maintained that only a financially established Balochistan could remove sense of deprivation amongst local people. He linked the nations future is laying with development of Balochistan.

[Neo]

PIA’s BoD reviews Strategic Business Plan 2010-14

KARACHI: PIA’s Board of Directors meeting reviewed proposed Strategic Business Plan of PIA for 2010 to 2014 and deliberated upon the assumptions and projections on which the plan has been based.

The Board meeting held inn Lahore Tuesday endorsed PIA’s survival and turnaround strategy would require joint efforts by PIA management and shareholders and government.

The plan included PIA’s commitment to strengthening culture of ethics and compliance, enhancing revenues through aggressive marketing strategies and operational restructuring in savings.

The shareholders’ support in the form of equity injection is vital for a sustainable turnaround. It recommended the government should review the aviation policy to make it equitable for all stakeholders by providing a level playing field to Pakistani airlines and encouraging investment in the sector.

The Board recommended the government should approve financial support package to ensure sustainability and viability of PIA.

Board considered the shortage of pilots for various aircraft and to ensure the integrity of the schedule, PIA should give option to pilots for rejoining on contract after sixty years, which is the superannuation age in PIA provided that they meet the prescribed CAA standards for flying aircraft.

PIA BoD was apprised of the performance of its subsidiary PIA Investments Limited, the meeting was chaired by Ch Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Defence and Chairman-PIA and attended by Captain Muhammad Aijaz Haroon, Managing Director PIA, Syed Naseer Ahmad, Malik Nazir Ahmed, Javed Akhtar, Lt Gen (retd) Syed Athar Ali, Prof Mian Ijaz ul Hassan, Mubashir Iftikhar, Husain Lawai and Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

[Neo]

IDA approves $130 million credit for Pakistan's highway system

FAISALABAD (September 30 2010): International Development Association (IDA), has approved a credit worth $130 million on Tuesday in additional financing for the Pakistan Highway Rehabilitation Project to continue revitalising and modernising Pakistan's highway system.

The project will further create a productive and efficient highway network, lowering transportation bottlenecks and costs, particularly crucial in light of tremendous damage caused by the recent floods and this loan will 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period.

The project consists of three components: rehabilitating 514-km of highways, resurfacing 342-km of highways, and reconstructing 128-km of damaged roads that provide vital access to remote and disaster-prone communities. Pakistan has about 8.8 million vehicles on the road, growing at about 10 percent annually projected to increase to over 70 million by 2030.

Additionally, WB statement said that the project also reinforces resource allocation, road maintenance, and strengthens the National Highway Authority's (NHA) capacity. This will complement Pakistan's development goals especially with rising per capita income and improving social indicators.

"Improvements in basic infrastructure including highways are critical to improving human development outcomes," said Rachid Benmessaoud, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. "With growth there has been an increase in demand for better infrastructure. However, Pakistan's infrastructure platform needs significant investment in order to support Pakistan's growth and service delivery goals."

The Pakistan Highway Rehabilitation Project was initially approved in 2003 and has demonstrated transformative results with 884-km of roads having been improved. Stretches in poor condition have been reduced by 20 percent, travel time between Peshawar and Karachi has been reduced by 9 percent, and road fatalities have been reduced by a notable 44 percent. "This continues to be a very important project," said Zafar Raja, Project team leader.

The World Bank has a long history of partnership and collaboration with Pakistan and has continued its support for a variety of infrastructure projects, including improvements of ports and barrages along with improving facilitation of trade and transport. The additional financing route was chosen to ensure fast processing of funds for the flood-affected communities. Of the $130.0 million, $20.0 million is part of the billion dollar floods package announced by the World Bank.

The credits from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's concessionary arm, have 40 years to maturity with a 10-year grace period; they carry a service charge of 0.75 percent. WB project report stated that Pakistan's transport sector is the fourth largest sector contributing 12 percent to the GDP. It accounts for over 21 percent of gross fixed capital formation. The sector constitutes 12 to 15 percent of the annual federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), and provides about 2.3 million jobs (6% of employed labour force).

It imposes huge demand on Pakistan's total energy supply, consuming about 35 percent of the total energy annually. Pakistan, with a 180 million people, generates a total domestic transport load of around 239 billion passenger-km and 153 billion ton-km. Pakistan's inland freight and passenger traffic has been growing at an average annual rate of 12 percent and 5 percent respectively during the past two decades.

Business Recorder [Pakistan's First Financial Daily]

[pronky]

good, thanksss