CE to open Jinnah Naval Base at Ormara
By Mukhtar Alam
May, 2000
KARACHI: After completion of the off-shore works, Pakistan Navy is all set to use its new base at Ormara, an outpost for operation of its ships and submarines, 240 km west of Karachi and 210 km east of Gwadar, officials said on Wednesday.
Chief Executive of Pakistan and Chief of the Army Staff General Pervez Musharraf would open the jetties constructed at Ormara, almost in the centre of the Mekran coast, on Thursday. The second naval harbour, called Jinnah Naval Base, is surely a quantum leap in the development of the country.
For long, there were proposals and demands for a port away from Karachi, but financial constraints refrained the Pakistan Navy from making heed. Finally, after the 1971 Indo-Pak war it became unquestionably obvious that Pakistan had to overcome its strategic weakness of having to rely upon the single port complex of Karachi and Port Qasim.
The planners in Pakistan had in the past preferred to keep our coastal areas closed resulting in concentration of all our precious and strategic resources along the coast of Karachi. The second base at Ormara would not only strengthen the maritime defence of the country but also open the 800-km long Mekran coast for development.
In September 1992 approval for construction of phase-I (offshore works) of a naval harbour at Ormara, comprising wharves, piers, breakwaters, approach channels and turning basin, was accorded. Pakistan Navy awarded contract for phase-I works to a consortium of STFA of Turkey and JDN of Belgium in June 1993.
The phase-I cost Rs 3600 million, while works on the phase-II pertaining to onshore works, costing Rs 6200 million have also been initiated. Presently over 2500 acres of land, including the wharf area, is at the disposal of Pakistan Navy, while 450 acres of land have been reclaimed from the sea, where, among other installations, a submarine rebuilding facility has also been developed.
The small fishing town of Ormara is located in the north of a headland which protrudes out of the general coastline to a distance of 12 km into the Arabian Sea and gives shelter to the town and the east bay from winds and waves from the southwest.
The Jinnah Naval Base has been constructed in the area having the most natural protection from this headland. To avoid ribbon development and ensure planned development of the area Pakistan Navy has, through consultants of international repute, prepared a land usage and master plan for the town.
Strategic advantage of the base, according to experts, could be assessed from the fact that in addition to reduction of the requirements from Karachi harbour by 60 per cent, the reaction time against any move of the enemy has also been reduced.
Chronology of events that ultimately led to the development of Jinnah Naval Base:
1954-74: A number of studies in coastal areas, including Jewani, Gwadar, Pasni, Khor Kalmat, Hingol and Sonmiani, were conducted, which provided valuable though inadequate database.
1987: The DCC approved the feasibility study of Khor Kalamat.
1988: A Dutch consultant was selected for study.
1989: Terms of reference extended to cover Gwadar, Pasni and Ormara.
1990-92: Feasibility study and detailed design completed and approved by Pakistan Navy.
1993: Contract awarded to a consortium.
1994: Contractor mobilised and work started in full swing.
