Latest news with #KarachiPortTrust
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Proposed project to connect port to Shahra-e-Bhutto discussed
KARACHI: Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Public-Private Partnership, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar have discussed the proposed project to connect Karachi Port to Shahra-e-Bhutto (Malir Expressway) at Qayyumabad Interchange. They discussed the proposal during a meeting between Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh on Public-Private Partnership, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, held at the Sindh Investment Department on Thursday. The meeting focused on a wide range of development initiatives including road infrastructure connecting port areas, a comprehensive truck logistics park, desalination plant at Karachi Port Trust (KPT), and integrated strategies for the development of the blue economy. It was informed in the meeting that the distance from Karachi Port to Qayyumabad Interchange is approximately 12 kilometres. On this occasion, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar said that the proposed project will facilitate the movement of heavy traffic to Karachi Port and the heavy traffic of the port will be able to get easy access to the M-9 Super Highway without entering the city roads. Federal Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry termed the project important and useful and assured his full cooperation to make it feasible. Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar said that the implementation of the project will reduce heavy traffic on the roads of Karachi city and increase traffic flow. It was informed in the briefing that the total portfolio of Public Private Partnership projects in Sindh has reached Rs 616 billion and all PPP projects have been declared successful. On this occasion, it was agreed to hold a meeting between the Sindh government and the Karachi Port Trust to make the proposed project of connecting Karachi Port to Shahrah-e-Bhutto feasible. Another major project discussed was the proposed construction of a truck logistics park near the Malir Expressway. Spanning over 300 acres, the park is strategically located due to its close proximity to city centres, port terminals, and direct access to the M-9 Motorway. This facility is aimed at organizing the growing number of heavy vehicles entering and exiting Karachi's ports daily. the installation of desalination plants at KPT was discussed to address Karachi's chronic water shortages. These plants would play a vital role in improving freshwater availability for both residential and industrial consumers, especially in port-adjacent areas. They also exchanged views on expanding the blue economy—harnessing ocean resources for sustainable economic growth while ensuring environmental conservation. The meeting was attended by Secretary Investment Sindh Raja Khurram Shahzad, Director General Public Private Partnership Unit Asad Zamin and other senior officers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Arab News
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's largest port operator issues monsoon safety measures
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's largest port operator, the Karachi Port Trust (KPT), on Tuesday issued a list of precautions to be taken in case of heavy rains, winds and flooding during the upcoming monsoon season, including monitoring the safety of ships and boats and securing dredges, barges and cargo. The upcoming monsoon season is expected to begin earlier than usual and bring heavier rainfall, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said last week. The season is likely to begin around June 26–27, roughly three to four days ahead of its typical onset. Rainfall across the country is likely to exceed normal levels by up to 5 percent, with northeastern Punjab bracing for a 50 percent increase. 'Monitor the safety of ships at berths closely and assess their security and ensure mooring lines are properly set,' the KPT said in an advisory. 'Pilots should be on standby to cast off vessels to sea in heavy weather. Tugs, pilot boats, and shipping boats must be ready for emergencies.' Small boats should be parked in less exposed locations and properly secured and dredgers and barges must also be well secured, with doubled-up mooring ropes and manned appropriately, KPT said. All cargo such as vehicles, appliances, sensitive and lightweight goods, should be secured and covered with tarpaulin. 'Ensure technical staff is available 24/7 for support. Medical team and ambulance must be on standby,' the advisory added. 'Roofs should be maintained to prevent leakages and seepage. High winds and lightning can damage power lines and transformers; maintenance of electrical items is necessary.' KPT also recommended the availability of standby generators and backup power on short notice during heavy rain. Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable nations to climate change. In 2022, devastating floods blamed on climate change killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
Business Recorder
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
KPT holds awareness course on cyber security
KARACHI: In the wake of a recent cyber-attack on the official "X" account of Karachi Port Trust (KPT), it launched a two-day awareness course titled "Assessment of Network and Cyber Security Threats" to further strengthen its cyber security and help prevent future incidents. The timing of this course is particularly significant in light of the recent cyber-attack on KPT's official "X" (formerly Twitter) account on May 9, 2025, reportedly carried out by Indian hackers. The attackers compromised the account and posted false information, falsely claiming that Karachi Port had sustained damage from an Indian assault. Although the account was promptly recovered and the misleading content removed, the incident underscored the urgent need for enhanced cyber security measures-making this training course a timely and necessary initiative. According to KPT officials, the two-day awareness course on "Assessment of Network and Cyber Security Threats" kicked off at the KPT Staff College on Wednesday. Organised by the Management Information Systems (MIS) Department, the course has drawn strong participation from various departments within KPT, highlighting the organization's commitment to enhancing its cyber security posture. During the course, participants engaged in discussions on the myriad vulnerabilities and threats that individuals and organisations face in the digital landscape. Experts shared valuable insights on safety measures and precautions to mitigate these risks, equipping participants with the knowledge to navigate the online world more securely. Officials say that the said incident underscores the growing threat of cyber-attacks, especially in the context of the current geopolitical environment as the government's websites and official social media handles have become increasingly vulnerable to such threats. They further told Business Recorder that by investing in the training and development of its employees, KPT aims to stay ahead of the curve in terms of cyber security and protect its digital assets from malicious activities. The course serves as a testament to the organization's dedication to cyber security and its commitment to creating a safer online environment for its operations, he added. The awareness course is a proactive step by KPT to bolster its defences and prepare its staff to tackle potential cyber threats effectively. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India tells X to block over 8,000 accounts
By Anuj Chopra Washington: India has ordered X to block more than 8,000 accounts, the platform said Thursday, adding that it was reluctantly complying with what it described as government-imposed "censorship." The move appears to be part of India's sweeping crackdown targeting social media accounts of Pakistani politicians, celebrities and media organizations amid heightened tensions and deadly confrontations between the nuclear-armed neighbors. The order, which X said includes demands to block international news organizations and other prominent users, comes a day after Meta banned a prominent Muslim news page on Instagram in India at New Delhi's request. "X has received executive orders from the Indian government requiring X to block over 8,000 accounts in India, subject to potential penalties including significant fines and imprisonment of the company's local employees," the site's global government affairs team said in a statement. It added that in most cases, the government had not specified which posts from the accounts violated Indian laws, and in many others, it provided no evidence or justification for the blocks. The Elon Musk-owned platform said it disagreed with the demands but it had begun the process to withhold the specified accounts in India. "Blocking entire accounts is not only unnecessary, it amounts to censorship of existing and future content, and is contrary to the fundamental right of free speech," the statement said. "This is not an easy decision, however keeping the platform accessible in India is vital to Indians' ability to access information." X said it could not make the Indian executive orders public due to legal restrictions, but it encouraged the impacted users to seek "appropriate relief from the courts." The move comes amid fierce exchanges of artillery between India and Pakistan that has killed more than 50 people, two weeks after New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-run side of the disputed Muslim-majority region of Kashmir. Pakistan rejects the charge. Pakistan accounts hacked Pakistan's National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) meanwhile warned of the risk of increased cyberattacks on emails, social media, QR codes and messaging apps. Both Pakistan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Karachi Port Trust said this week that their X accounts had been hacked and later restored. In the case of the Karachi Port Trust, the account was hacked to say that the port -- one of South Asia's busiest -- has been attacked by the Indian military. The X account was later restored and the port authority said that no attack had taken place. India has also banned more than a dozen Pakistani YouTube channels for allegedly spreading "provocative" content, including Pakistani news outlets. Pakistani Bollywood movie regulars Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam were also off limits in India, as well as a wide range of cricketers including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Rising hostilities between the South Asian neighbors have unleashed an avalanche of online misinformation, with social media users circulating everything from deepfake videos to outdated images from unrelated conflicts, falsely linking them to the ongoing fighting.
Business Recorder
10-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Disinformation rejected: Normal operations continue at Karachi Port
KARACHI: Operations at the Pakistan's largest seaport, Karachi Port, remain uninterrupted as ships continue to arrive and depart on schedule, despite a failed attempt by Indian media and hackers to spread misinformation and create panic. On Thursday night, several Indian media outlets falsely reported that the India had launched an attack on Karachi Port, allegedly causing massive destruction and halting all operations. The fabricated news was further supported by a cyber-attack, in which Indian hackers temporarily hacked the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and posted a fake statement claiming the port had sustained damage. The cyber-attack was quickly countered, and KPT successfully regained control of its X account. 'Reports circulating on India Media claiming that Karachi Port has been attacked by India and damages have been caused are completely false and baseless. 'Karachi Port is operating normally & securely and all port functions, activities and operations are taking as normal routine activity', KPT said on its X account. In response to the disinformation campaign, the port authority also invited journalists to visit the site and observe normal port activities firsthand. Public Relations Officer Shariq Amin Farooqi briefed the media during the tour, clearly stating that no attack, by drone, missile, or otherwise, had occurred. He emphasised that the Indian media claims are entirely baseless and part of a deliberate propaganda effort. KPT officials informed that 16 vessels are currently docked at the port, including 8 bulk carriers, 4 container ships, and 2 oil tankers. Over the past 24 hours, approximately 170,000 tons of cargo have been handled through export and import operations. 'There has not been a single moment of disruption in port operations,' said the KPT spokesperson. In the next 24 hours, nine more ships are expected to dock, he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
