Junaid Chaudhry Calls for Stronger Port-City Link and Better Healthcare for Coastal Communities
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry has called for stronger links between ports and surrounding cities, emphasizing the importance of port development, maritime infrastructure, jobs, tax revenues, logistics, industrial activity and waterfront regeneration in supporting urban economic growth.
“Ports and cities have historically been closely linked, and there is a need to strengthen this relationship,” Junaid Chaudhry said. He noted that while the economic benefits of ports often extend beyond port regions, the environmental and social impacts are frequently concentrated in port cities. He stressed that communities located around major ports should also benefit directly from maritime economic activity and development.
Minister Seeks Greater Role for Ports in Urban Development
Commenting on the role of ports in urban development, the federal minister stressed the need to restore their position as drivers of urban economic growth while also ensuring that they contribute to the provision of healthcare services for surrounding communities.
The minister’s remarks came as the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) held its 35th free medical camp at Bhit Island, providing healthcare services to 513 residents as part of its initiative to improve access to medical care in coastal communities.
The medical camp was organized on the directives of Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry under the theme “Healthcare Beyond Boundaries.”
KPT Medical Camp Serves 513 Bhit Island Residents
Junaid Chaudhry said the medical camp reflected the government’s broader vision of ensuring that communities living around port and coastal areas benefit from development activities.
The KPT medical team examined 513 patients and provided free medicines and laboratory services. The beneficiaries included 202 men, 201 women and 110 children. Around 70 laboratory tests were also conducted during the camp.
A dedicated screening drive for hepatitis B and C was also organized to support early detection of these preventable diseases, particularly among underserved island communities.
Skin-related ailments accounted for around 70 percent of the cases reported at the medical camp. Doctors also recorded respiratory and gastrointestinal complaints, while some patients were found to be suffering from chronic conditions, including hypertension and diabetes.
Speech Therapy Awareness Session Held for Mothers
As part of the healthcare initiative, a KPT speech therapist conducted an awareness session for mothers focused on the early detection, prevention and treatment of developmental delays and neurological disorders among children.
The mothers were briefed on the importance of speech therapy and early intervention, highlighting the need for timely attention to developmental and neurological concerns among children living in coastal and island communities.
Stronger Port-Community Connection Needed
Junaid Chaudhry urged the KPT to continue such initiatives to bring essential healthcare services closer to communities, particularly those living on islands and in underserved coastal areas.
The minister’s emphasis on linking port development with community welfare highlights the broader role ports can play beyond cargo handling and logistics. Stronger connections between ports, cities and surrounding communities can help ensure that maritime economic activity contributes not only to trade and industrial growth but also to the social development of people living in port and coastal areas.
Read: Trade Sector Gains Rs500 Million Relief After Maritime Minister Suspends KPT Tariff Hike
