Federal Minister for Commerce ensures ease and facilitation package for Port-Qasim, Pakistan’s second busiest sea port

Federal Minister for Commerce, Khurram Dastagir Khan visited Port Qasim recently and inspected trade facilities offered to businesses at the port. He directed the port authorities to ensure maximum ease and facilitation to the business community and entire cargo to Pakistan coming from anywhere in the world.

Federal minister also attended a meeting with the Chairman of Qasim Port Authority; Agha Jan Akhtar briefed the Minister on the port operations and said that more facilities can make Port Qasim an attractive place to do business in the region.

Port Qasim is already Pakistan’s second busiest seaport after the Karachi Port and handles the immense amount of sea cargo which is expected to rise in the future.

President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry also attended the meeting, accompanied by several business tycoons and groups of exporters to discuss the issues of delay in cargo. Other participants were senior officers of PQA, Director General of Anti-Narcotics Forces of Sindh, Controller Customs and exports and business community members.

The business community demanded that the government provides modern technology for scanning the containers that can reduce the clearance time by almost 90%. Due to old technology in use, the business community, and non-commercial importers face massive delays in cargo container clearance at the port. They especially pointed over the Anti-Narcotics Force, must have the most modern equipment for scanning and repacking of containers.

Chief Executive Officer at Port Qasim international container terminal (QICT) mentioned that the QICT is left with very short time to repack the containers after ANF inspection process as ships are ready to leave the port. This delay de-motivated employees and negatively affected teamwork on the floor which resulted in improperly packed cargo consignments. All of these problems are a big question mark on the performance of the authorities who run the port.

One of the ANF staff said that ANF scans only two percent containers for drugs and narcotics at the port and most commonly scans cargo coming from Afghanistan. He told reporters how he uses techniques seen in several Hollywood movies to check trafficking of drugs. The Minister commented on that the movies are for entertainment only; you cannot control the departments like ANF by watching movies.

The Commerce Minister agreed to problems faced by the authorities and ensures a big facilitation package for Port Qasim.