Hundreds of dock workers of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) on Wednesday staged a protest demonstration against the authority for not providing them with work, saying ships were 'deliberately' being steered towards a private cargo terminal at the harbour.
The workers were chanting slogans for their rights and demanding the authority to end the "discriminatory" policies towards the port labourers. They had banners and placards in hands, which described with slogans and demands and were waving red flags outside Karachi Press Club.
They said the PQA had failed to protect the dockers rights at the country's second largest seaport, which had around 1880 workers, whose primary source of earning was linked to the availability of work at Port Qasim. They said the authority should meet the dockers 'legal' demands without any delay.
They said the cargo ships, which had to berth at Port Qasim were now being steered towards the newly built private cargo terminal, causing a huge shortage of work to dockers. The agitation was organised by Port Qasim Dock Workers Social Development Forum. Dockers were demanding for restoration of medical facilities, and improved work at the harbour as per the law. They said port workers were still not paid with three months of salaries and annual bonus.