EDITORIAL: The Federal Communications Minister, Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, recently stated that no progress ... had been made in connection with the construction of the (Qasim) Port and that `we have to start from scratch and go full blast to complete the job`.

... The necessity of a second port has long been felt in view of the ... increase in the volume of traffic passing through the Port of Karachi, the capacity of which is already under heavy strain. ... Moreover, the new port will provide deep water anchorage facilities for bulk carriers and super oil tankers. ...

It is reassuring that measures are being taken to ensure that Port Qasim is ready to receive bulk carriers by the stipulated date.

The ... need of a full-fledged deep water port will be greatly felt by early 80s in the wake of further industrialisation. This will mean more export of our manufactures as well as commodities and heavier imports of oil, industrial raw materials and consumer goods which might almost double by then. Crude and raw materials for the steel mill will be moved by super oil tankers and bulk carriers of up to one lakh tons, and this calls for the completion of the project on schedule.