Goods transporters strike, supplies affected, containers held up

[LRE]

Goods transporters strike, supplies affected, containers held up

Updated at: 1255 PST, Saturday, August 23, 2008

KARACHI: Following goods transporters’ strike continuing for the fifth consecutive here, the import and export cargo handling at the Karachi Port and Port Qasim stand severely disturbed.

Shipping sources said that one ship carrying cargo for Karachi diverted without calling at the Karachi Port due to goods transporters’ strike, while two cement vessels despite lapse of the scheduled time, couldn’t leave the port besides 4 cement and 2 phosphate vessels were waiting outside the port for berths not being vacated. On the other hand, 3 ships are waiting for berth at Port Qasim, while the berthed 2 ships could not unload the cement.

Karachi Port officials denied any ship diverted without calling at the port, while one phosphate ship would take berth today. In fact, containers and bulk cargo rush has tremendously increased at both the ports especially, Karachi Port.

Karachi Port chairperson, Nasreen Huque said that the port still has the capacity to unload goods for two/three days and there was no immediate problem of congestion. She said that the provincial government should make a move for the resolution of the issue, while the railway should also play its role.




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