The Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi chaired an important meeting at KPT Head Office to resolve traffic congestion problems faced by the goods transporters on Keamari Road. Besides the Minister Ali Zaidi, today’s meeting was well attended by Member National Assembly Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel, federal Secretary Maritime Affairs Rizwan Ahmed, Chairman KPT Rear Admiral (R) Jamil Akhtar HI (M) T.Bt, Deputy Commissioner West Mr. Fayyaz Solangi, SIDCL representative Mr.Samar Khan, SAPTL representative Captain Jamaluddin, PICT representative Mr. Khurram Khan, KICT representative Mr. Zafarullah Jan, representatives of Goods Transporters and high officials of KPT.
The meeting remained focused on finding solutions to resolve the traffic congestion problems being faced by the goods transporters on Keamari Road due to traffic jams created by oil tankers.
During the meeting, the Chairman KPT Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar informed the honourable members of the National Assembly – Syed Ali Haider Zaidi and Mr. Abdul Qadir Patel about the Layari Expressway which was primarily constructed for the heavy vehicle transportation but was later made unavailable to heavy traffic coming out of Karachi Port. The Chairman KPT demanded the possession of parking area land occupied by the oil tankers and said that if this land be made available to KPT then some ease to traffic jams would result. He said that encroachments have further added to this and choked the port area of KPT. He also informed about his previous efforts of approaching law enforcement agencies, including the Sindh Rangers and Sindh Police departments, for the removal of oil tankers from the parking area which the Supreme Court has banned.
The DC Mr. Fayyaz Solangi asked Chairman KPT Rear Admiral Jamil to nominate an official of KPT in this regard to remain in touch with him on long term basis. He offered to conduct anti-encroachment drive on immediate basis to solace KPT in acquiring back its precious land. In response, the Chairman KPT nominated the General Manager Civil Works & Estate Mr. Sohail Anwer to remain in touch with DC for such tasks.
The meeting concluded on positive note and it was decided that SIDCL representative Mr. Samar Khan will present the master plan for land utilization under Layari Expressway during the next meeting scheduled to take place in KPT Head Office on 1st February 2020. The Minister Ali Zaidi directed the representative of SIDCL to coordinate and work jointly in this regard with the Deputy Commissioner Karachi.