PM Imran inaugurates ship lift and transfer system at Karachi Shipyard

KARACHI: Prime Minister Imran Khan today (Tuesday) inaugurated the ship lift and transfer system at Karachi shipyard, which would help improve the efficiency of the shipping sector.

The premier performed the inauguration by touching an electronic panel on the occasion. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Mahmood Moulvi, Minister for Defence Production Zubaida Jalal, parliamentarians and officials of Pakistan Navy were present.

Speaking on the occasion, PM Imran expressed pleasure at the progress in using technology for various tasks. “It was not just a matter of using technology for its own purposes but also using it to make money,” he pointed out.

وزیراعظم عمران خان کراچی کا ایک روزہ دورہ کریں گے۔ pic.twitter.com/xfQUuPARsO

— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) August 10, 2021

“Now we will be able to service 12 ships and ship lift 7,400 tonnes. We have to save the country’s money using technology,” he said, adding that foreign exchange reserves would be saved due to the inaugurated facility being available here now.

The prime minister also highlighted that the ruling government was focusing on promotion of exports, encourage overseas Pakistanis to up remittances, and attract foreign investment.

“Efforts were on to check money-laundering to stop loss to national exchequer,” he added. The premier regretted that Pakistan could not reach its potential of the trajectory which it had maintained 50 years ago.

He lamented that Pakistan had not realised its potential in the past and instead ventured on an “easy path”, becoming an import-led economy that became dependent on foreign aid.

“Nations become strong when become self-sufficient and trust their potential to flourish”, he added. PM Imran paid tribute to Pakistan Navy for the launch of ship lift and transfer system, which he said would prove fruitful in generating economic activity.

Prime Minister Imran Khan will later chair a meeting at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) to review the Rs1.1 trillion Karachi Transformation Plan as well.

The ship lift will work as a large elevator platform to raise the ship out of water for dry-docking ashore and lowering it back into water after completion of work.

The ship transfer system with its electro-hydraulic trolleys has been designed to transfer ships from ship lifts to dry berths on land.

The prime minister’s visit to Karachi comes as his government is set to complete its three years in power and, with the next general elections just two years away, political analysts suggesting that the premier has his sight set on Sindh’s vote bank.

Karachi Transformation Plan

Last year, PM Imran Khan announced Rs1,100bn development package for Karachi terming it as a  “historic” package that will cater to the city’s diverse problems including water supply, transport, and solid waste management.

The premier had said that the first issue being addressed is the water supply, by completing the Greater Karachi Water Supply Scheme known as K-IV. He had expressed hope that Karachi’s water supply issue will be fully resolved in the next three years.

The prime minister had assured that the transformation package would address the city’s sewerage and solid waste disposal problems. Regarding transportation, the prime minister had said that the Karachi Circular Railway, the Bus Rapid Transit, and other mass transit project are included in the plan.