Pakistan is faced with a precarious situation as it is facing the dual crises of climate change and energy shortage. While more fuel is needed to supplement the energy crisis, erratic climate, droughts and floods will only be worsened by more use of coal and fuel. However, some projects and initiatives are underway to try to resolve or cater to both crises at the same time. Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) is one such example and has been setup as the Country’s first terminal for handling Coal, Clinker and Cement on build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis at Port Qasim Authority.
The project has seen major investment from JS Group and with the conglomerate’s high commitment to environmental friendly measures and corporate social responsibility, the balance between an economical profitability and ecological stability will surely be struck.
Port Qasim is located fifty kilometers from Karachi, on the coast line of the Arabian Sea. It has a forty five kilometer long navigation channel which provides safe and convenient navigation for vessels and handles more than 40% of Pakistan’s cargo. Thus, PITB will make Post Qasim all the more efficient and effective within the fuel and coal sector.
Karachi is the country’s economic backbone with a population of approximately 17 million people and is also Pakistan’s main port city, and accounts for 42 percent of its total GDP. It generates about half of Pakistan’s tax revenue, and houses its stock exchange, central bank, and the priciest real estate in the country, according to the CEO of real estate portal Zameen.com. Therefore, capacity building Karachi through PIBT and ensuring seamless delivery and environmentally sound measures is of crucial importance for the country’s overall wellbeing and prosperity.
PIBT will build capacity for handling up to 12m tons of Coal and 4 million tons of Cement & Clinker per year, which can together be further enhanced up to 20 million tons per year. Echoing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor program, PIBT is being set up for handling and delivering coal to Power and Cement plants by utilizing the rail, road and sea networks. This project will be an integral part of the coal supply chain up to the entry gates of power and cement plants located across the country.
One of the most impressive aspects of PITB remains its effort to supplant climate change. According to an article, Dr. Asif Inam of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has commented saying, “Mangrove trees cannot stop cyclones and tsunamis. Instead, they act as the first line of defense against these natural calamities, minimizing their damage.” These dense mangroves that once existed in delta have now been substantially lessened. With the mangroves gone, the Karachi coastline is now more prone to natural disasters such as cyclones and tsunamis than ever before.
However, PIBT is taking a step towards fulfilling its corporate social and environmental responsibility by partnering with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (“IUCN”) for the conservation and plantation of coastal mangroves. The project has set a goal of contributing towards protecting the coasts by planting mangroves over 1200 acres at the Port Qasim area. In addition, there are several campaigns to raise awareness among the coastal communities for promoting sustainable use of mangrove forest with the help of IUCN.
PITB is noted to commence commercial operation in 2016 and will provide several services that are sure to increase fuel efficiency and power supply while up keeping ecologically conscious activities. With high level investment from key business players such as JS Group, PITB is bound to be a success for the country.
