Karachi: The World Bank (WB) in a recent report, proposed the construction of a new port city at Sonmiani Bay to address the country’s rising cargo demands and capacity improvement, a news source reported on November 6.
The research report, Karachi Ports Supply and Demand Assessment, investigated four possible alternatives for increasing port capacity and addressing the estimated 129% growth in cargo handling demand over the next 20 years.
In its report, WB suggested that the government should build an Elevated expressway linking Northern Highways to Karachi Port at a cost of USD 300 million. This would address the short term goals of diverting traffic from the interior of the city and will also reduce pressure on main highways. Similarly, the second viable option would be to develop Port Qasim with a budget of USD 500 million, which will increase cargo traffic and relieve pressure on Karachi Port.
Other suggestions included investing USD 850 million in the repair and expansion of both Karachi Port and Port Qasim (which is projected to reach capacity in the mid-2030s). However, the major alternative emphasised in the study is the development of an entirely new port at Sonmiani Bay at a cost of USD 9.6 billion, which will be able to handle all port-related difficulties for the foreseeable future. Moreover, the research stated that the project would be a large infrastructure project that would confront challenges in policy making and land-related concerns.
Nauman Ahmad is an imaginative Pisces whose love for literature and nature is unparalleled. When he's not reading or hiking, he's sleeping and eating, which gives him plenty of energy for his next adventure.
