Harbour pilots'' protest continues

The strike of Karachi Port Trust''s (KPT) masters (operators) of pilot boats commonly known as harbour pilots entered for third day on Thursday, scaling down the foreign vessels in-out traffic significantly at the country''s prime seaport, sources close to the protesters said.
A limited traffic of foreign ships could become possible at the seaport only after KPT''s Deputy Conservator (DC), Shaukat, Harbour Master (HM) Shakeel Babar, Assistance HM, Atif alias Tony and Dock Master (DM) Jamal themselves, on emergency basis, took charge of the operations, sources said.
"Several ships have already left the outer anchorage - seven nautical miles off the harbour and voyaged to the country''s second largest dock, Port Qasim. Some are still waiting for assistance from pilots to get to Karachi Port this evening," they added.
The strikers'' demands include an increase in different allowances such as patrol, transportation, medical and perks, as their strike entered the third consecutive day at the harbour, they said, adding "the strike is a result of the personal interest of these masters and nothing else".
On the other hand, KPT administration rejected such demands and publicly kept itself at a reasonable distant from the strikers, despite media had approached it to ascertain KPT''s stance. The KPT''s spokesman had denied the media reports, saying cargo handling operations and ships traffic at the harbour continued unabated and unaffected.
Analysts believe the impact of the strike could be offset, regardless of pilots'' defiance. They criticised KPT for failing to explore an alternative source to end their "monopoly" and "indispensability". "There are several applicants who have appeared for the job of pilots but KPT ignored all of them. There are still dozens of capable jobless seamen and second officers in the country, for this job," they viewed.
The strike started on Tuesday after talks between KPT administration and the pilots on the issue of salary allowance and other perks failed, which left the seaport''s all vessel traffic completely suspended, they said. According to the KPT port operations statistics, three containers, one general cargo vessel and one oil tanker had set sail on Thursday, whereas two containers, two general cargo ships and one oil tanker arrived at the seaport.
Meanwhile, KPT, says in a press release says that Karachi port handles 60 percent of the national trade and is a vital gateway to bulk of foreign ships visiting Pakistan. Shipping, therefore, comes under essential services and its interruption is a rare phenomenon. It was only during last year due to the danger of cyclone ''Phet'' that no activity took place for one day. Pilots, being responsible officers have no room for contemplating stoppage of work strike etc, and they are governed by service codes of discipline. Karachi Port takes care of its workers and welfare of all its employees is accorded high priority in this organisation. Accordingly, pilots who guide the ships in and out of the port, form a vital group of its human resource. These officers perform their tasks diligently in all weather conditions and therefore their interests are looked after quite carefully. Of late, there has been a demand, particularly fanned by a small group of pilots that all of them should be allocated cars for conveyance. There have been few other assorted cases of individual nature.
Almost all of them have been addressed or are being addressed even before the pilots had to raise them. KPT although being an autonomous body, functions strictly under the KPT Act and Government Rules. In particular, its financial management is strictly as per Government rules on public finances including a strict scrutiny by Audit Departments etc Within the space permitted by these parameters, KPT endeavours to look after its employees to the best possible extent.
A host of betterment has been accorded to pilots in the recent past including regularisation of service, enhancement in allowances, provision of state of the art tugs, procurement plans of pilot boats, widening and dredging of channel, induction of new pilots, etc Issues such as allocation of personal vehicles, however, merit an across the board view and can not be considered in isolation. The port continues to function efficiently and management is actively pursuing the legitimate aspirations in its employees, the KPT press release concludes.