ALL PAKISTAN COASTS INTRODUCTION

Pakistan shares a 1,200 kilometres long coast line with the Arabian Sea - a mid sea which joins the the strategic oil line of Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. On it lie the Karachi Port which has been serving this part of the erstwhile Indian subcontinent and later Pakistan on its creation in 1947. However, owing to the growing needs of the country, there was a need to develop other smaller coastal ports into major cargo handling ports. Beside Karachi, Pasni, Jiwani, Gadani, Ormara and Gwadar are other ports which are being developed into world class ship handling centres. Of these Gwadar is the latest development, which is almost completed and recently in December 2008, it has started handling shipping operations with the arrival of three urea laded ships.Introduction




Karachi Port:




 Karachi Port is the hub of Pakistan's entire economic activities as 98 per cent of the entire foreign trade is conducted through this port. Read more about the history of Karachi Port (Wikipedia). As such Karachi Port is being modernized at a total cost of Rs. 5 billion including World Bank loan of US $ 91.4 million. The Government has increased emphasis on an early completion of the entire scheme. As a result the following projects have already become functional:-


OP-V:- OP-V has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 510 million with an annual handling capacity of 6 to 8 million tons liquid cargo. The project has been in operation since April, 1994.



Circular Road:- To solve the problem of traffic congestion around Port area and central city areas of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Government has given go ahead signal for construction of a Circular Road comprising Southern By-pass, Jinnah Bridge (Phase-II) and Northern By-pass at an estimated cost of Rs. 1353 million. The first phase of the project has been completed in December, 1997.



Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Berths No.5-10:- To enable Karachi Port to handle increasing volume of cargo, the Government has directed to reconstruct/rehabilitate the Berths No. 5-10 at an estimated cost of US $ 60 million within the next 2 years.



Container Terminals.- In order to modernize cargo handling at Karachi Port, the Government has directed KPT to set up another Container Terminal at West Wharf (Berths NO.22-24) through private sector at an estimated cost of US $ 75 million. 


Port Muhammad Bin Qasim




With the coming up of the Steel Mills near Karachi and to meet the increasing demand of coal, it was decided to construct a sea port some 35 kilometres west of Karachi. It was constructed in the late 1970s and named after the Muslim general Muhammad bin Qasim who captured the area around 712 A.D. The port was developed close to the Pakistan Steel Mills complex near the Indus River delta. Port Qasim is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). It is located in an old channel of the Indus River at a distance of 35 kilometres east of Karachi city centre. The total area of the port comprises 1,000 acres (4 km²) with an adjacent 11,000 acre (45 km²) industrial estate. The approach to the port is along a 45-kilometre long Navigation Channel which provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 DWT. The geographic position of the Port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes. One of it's major advantages is the proximity to national transport facilities - 15 kilometres from the Pakistan National Highway, 14 kilometres from the National Railway network through six railway tracks located immediately behind the berths and 22 kilometres from Jinnah International Airport.


Gwadar Deep Sea Port:




 Gwadar was once a fishing village on the Arabian Sea coast in Balochistan province and some 72 kilometres from the Iranian border. It is situated about 400km from the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global oil supplies. More than 13 million bbl/d of oil pass through the Strait. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. The present town of Gwadar, Pakistan, lies on the Arabian Sea coast about 30 miles (48 km) to the east of Gwadar Bay. Gwadar's location and history have given it a unique blend of cultures. The Arabic influence upon Gwadar is strong as a consequence of the Omani era and the close proximity of other Arab-majority regions. The legacy of the Omani slave trade is observed in the population by the presence of residents which can trace their descent from the African slaves who were trafficked through the town (en route to destinations in the Muslim Far East. The area also has a remarkable religious diversity, being home to not only Sunni Muslims, but also to groups of Christians, Hindus, Parsis, and various minorities. 


Pakistan identified Gwadar as a port site in 1964. However, it was only in 2001 that significant steps were taken with the help of Chinese assistance in the construction and development of the deep-sea port. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$1.16 billion, of which China has contributed about $198 million for the first phase for construction of three multi-purpose ship berths. China has also invested another $200 million toward building a highway connecting Gwadar port with Karachi. 




Ormara


Ormara is a small port located on the Makran coastline along the Arabian Sea in Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is located 450 kilometres west of Karachi, and east of coastal village Pasni. Jinnah naval base of Pakistan Navy is also located at Ormara. Ormara also has a small airport for landing of short run aircraft like the Fokker. Ormara is an old coastal town. Its historical routes are linked with Alexander the Great, who stayed here with his army for a few days on his way back from Indus region after conquering the lands of Sindh, Panjab and the NWFP regions of modern day Pakistan which he joined to his expanding Hellenic empire, in 325-27 BC. One of his generals "Ormoz" died here and the present day Ormara was named after him. For a few centuries, Ormara remained a battle field between the Baloch Sardar (local feudal) and foreign aggressors. Before independence, it was part of the state of Las Bela and afterward it became part of Makran Division. Being an isolated town, it remained undeveloped, however with the naval presence around, life has taken a positive change for the locals with many local industries and the resultant increase in jobs available for the locals. It has a population of about forty thousand people and still offers a traditional look at how the ancients lived. Most residents make their livelihood from fishing; a few of them also work in Middle Eastern countries. Ormara has witnessed considerable growth in recent years especially with the foundation of the Makran coastal highway, which integrated the area more with the mainstream Pakistani economy and major urban centres allowing for easier transport of goods, commerce and people.


Pasni


Pasni is a medium-sized town and a fishing port in along the Makran coastline Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located about 300 km from Karachi. The town houses a modern fish harbour and Port of Pasni, with fishing being the main occupation of the town dwellers. Frozen catch is also sent to Turbat and Karachi for sale in the larger markets. A joint-user airfield is shared by Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Pakistan Navy and civil aviation. PAF as well as PN-Aviation operational facilities are housed nearby. Daily commercial flights link the town with Karachi. In 2008, the government approved the construction of Shadi Kaur storage dam near Pasni, which is expected to alleviate some of the power deficiency of the region. Administratively, Pasni is the headquarters of the Pasni sub-division of Gwadar district that includes Pasni and Ormara Tehsils (tehsil - county) as well as Astola Island which lies 40km ESE of Pasni, in the Arabian Sea. The city of Pasni is itself administratively subdivided into two Union Councils.


Jiwani




Jiwani - a small fishing harbour, holds strategic importance in the region, located immediately adjacent to the shipping lanes to and from the Persian Gulf. This is the main reason that the town hosts a small naval base and an airport with a 5,500-foot runway. Jiwani is located at the eastern end of Gwadar Bay, which is shared between Iran and Pakistan. The area around the bay includes an important mangrove forest extending across the international border, and is an important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, especially the endangered Olive Ridley and Green Turtles. Being free from pollution, Jiwani is reminiscent of a South Sea island, with vast stretches of sandy beaches giving onto the clean, clear green waters of the Arabian Sea. For the same reason, Jiwani is rich in biodiversity. Recently, WWF-Pakistan established the Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre (JCIC). The aim is to contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity in the area, through information dissemination. 


With the extension of the Makran Coastal Highway from Gwadar, Jiwani is a place to be seen especially by those who are interested in observing history more closely. Jiwani has a small airport located 10 km away from the city centre. It is not a major airport of Pakistan but has weekly flights connecting it with Gwadar, Pasni and Karachi.


Jiwani has been used World War II as allied base and remains of same base are available. Visiting the barracks area of the base used during World War 2 reveals many handwritten small stories and name of Allied Pilots. There is another story linked to Jiwani and that is Queen Victoria planned to visit the area to watch sunset and a hut which is now known as "Victoria Hut" was built for this purpose. Whether Queen Victoria visited or not but the Victoria hut is still being maintained by Pakistan Coast Guards.

Karachi The Busy Port City of Pakistan

Karachi in southern Pakistan, is the capital of the Sind Province, and lies on the Arabian Sea, at the northwestern edge of the Indus River delta. With its wide sunny beaches, deep-sea fishing, and horse racing all-year round, the city keeps you on your toes throughout your stay.
Karachi is also a major port centered on the island of Kiamari, and along with its international airport they act as a hub for international trade, transport, manufacturing and commerce. Karachi is the country’s center of commerce although the capital was moved to Islamabad in 1963.

The Karachi Harbor was once known as the gateway to Asia, due to its strategic geographical location. The harbor is a sheltered bay to the south-west of the city, protected from storms by the Sandspit Beach, the Manora Island and the Oyster Rocks, making it even more ideal. Karachi was a small fishing village in the early 19th Century but its history dates back much further and some historians identify it as a place from where a part of Alexander's Army boarded the Greek Flotilla in 326 BC.

Two rivers pass through the city—the River Malir and the River Lyari. Dense mangroves and creeks of the Indus delta can be found towards the southeastern side of the city.

Under British rule, the city became the chief outlet for Indus Valley cotton and grain exports. Spread over 3,530 sq. km, the metropolitan area along with its suburbs comprises the world's second most populated city. The region is largely flat or in some places has rolling plains, with hills on the western and northern boundaries of the urban sprawl. It is locally called the City of Lights for its liveliness and the City of The Quaid, for not only being both the birth and death place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan but also his home after 1947.

Clouds started pouring their blessed water in Karachi

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 It was such a lovely weather that I couldn’t stop myself from enjoying it and celebrating the beautiful weather with my friends. What could be a better place to visit other than SEA VIEW, the best of the best place in Karachi.
Let me give you an over view of Sea View, it’s actually corniche of Karachi. The moment you reach sea view road, you see beautiful heart throbbing waves splashing and hitting the edge. Lots of people go there to see the sunset, and many even go there to see the sunrise, people jog/walk there and many rich lads bring their horse for horse-riding on seaside (who would miss if one gets an opportunity).
Many bhutta Wala’s, goley gandey wala, Kehwa, Chaye wala are roaming there to serve you. But now there are many take away outlets there that have all the cuisines from Pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, rolls, biryani, juices, coffee, tea etc.
Not to forget Pizza Hut van there, a drive-thru McDonalds, Salt n pepper Village, Floating Boat, etc (hope I didn’t miss any)After sunset, normally people think that it might get dark there and dangerous but let me tell you it’s so bright there, that you might find a dropped common pin because there are so many lamp posts with brighter lights in them and many cops roaming around for security.
It’s a safe and calm place where waves that might seem quiet have so much noise in them that many a times people get afraid of these waves, especially when oil spills in the sea or when there is cyclone news, sea view road gets closed for security purposes. Not to forget, one can’t date there because of our efficient Karachi police. So there is no chance for youngsters to do anything

Cruising and Travel karachi port

The City of Karachi is to Pakistan what New York City is to the United States. Life is hurried, and time is money. Among the world's largest cities, the Port of Karachi has suffered many years of neglect. The city government, under the direction of Pakistan's president, has recently undertaken ambitious efforts to revitalize the city with the vision of making it the "City by the Sea." With a history as an important port city in the British Empire, the Port of Karachi has many beautiful Victorian buildings and much colonial architecture.

The Port of Karachi has an arid climate moderated by its proximity to the sea. The climate is a mild one with little rain. Winters are mild, and summers are hot. The city enjoys a relatively constant level of humidity, and cool breezes from the sea relieve the summer's heat. The winter months from November to February, are thought to be the best times to visit the Port of Karachi. Temperatures range from an average high of 34 °C (93 °F) in May and June to an average low of 13 °C (55 °F) in December and January.

The Mohatta Palace Museum is located in the house of successful entrepreneur Shiv Rattan Mohatta in the late 1920s. Having made a fortune in shipping and trading, he commissioned architect Agha Hussain Ahmed who had been the chief surveyor for the city. The mansion was built in the Mughal revival style, recreating the Anglo-Mughal palaces of the earlier Rajput princes. Covering over 1.7 thousand square meters, the palace contains stately rooms for entertainment on the ground floor and private rooms above. The balcony faces the Arabian Sea, and the palace is adorned with five rooftop domes and octagonal towers at the corners. The museum features the history and development of Pakistan's ceramic crafts from the 7000 BC Mehrgarh period through the 3500 BC Indus Valley Civilization to modern times. It contains more than wonderful 400 historic objects.