Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has authorised a special waiver, in demurrage, for relief goods coming from foreign countries and said that it would ensure clearance of the relief goods without delay. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of reconstructed berths of Karachi Port Trust here on Friday, he said that Pakistan is in the grip of a multitude of complex issues, which have been aggravated by the floods in the province of Sindh.
"My heart goes out to the sufferers of this natural catastrophe whom I have seen in tremendous distress", he said, adding: "Today each one of us needs to rise above ourselves and help our brothers, sisters and children affected by this national calamity." "Devastation caused by last year's flood was no less painful and the country had barely recovered from its effects when again we have had to face this gruesome situation", he said.
He applauded the efforts of the ports of Pakistan in general and the Karachi Port in particular that received and continues to receive and dispatch the relief goods sent by the international donors and overseas Pakistanis. "I am grateful to all friends abroad who reached out to help our countrymen", he said.