The Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has said that the decline in volume of cargo from 13.85 million tonnes to 12.68 million tonnes during July-April 4, constituting 8.5 percent decrease, is mainly due to decline in the POL traffic at Fotco, which shrank around 69 percent due to ban imposed by the Government on import of furnace oil.
Commenting on a report published in May 18 issue of Business Recorder, a PQA spokesman said that cargo volume at Marginal Wharf showed a shortfall of around 14 percent, which is due to absence of wheat exports during July-April of the current fiscal.
However, contrary to this traffic volume at chemical terminal, Steel Jetti and Container Terminal showed an increase of 75 percent, 7.1 percent and 44.8 percent respectively, which spoke volume of trade activity at the port, he said.
In the light of the above facts, the spokesman said, it was incorrect to presume that there was a serious decline in cargo handling at the port in the wake of non-issuance of tariff notification.
He said that to facilitate the traders, Port Qasim had rationalised port tariff, which were currently being reviewed by the Ports and Shipping Wing, Karachi. Once notified, it would help further boost shipping activity at the port, he added.
Comments
Comments are closed.