Imports, exports at 'complete standstill' as Karachi port blockade enters second day

Fisherfolk blocked harbour with launches after meeting between ministry officials and fisherfolk ended in vain

LAHORE:

A protest by the fisherfolk community after failed talks with the Maritime Affairs Ministry has resulted in a blockade at the Karachi port, bringing the import and export activities at the port to a halt.

Express News reported that the fisher folks blocked the harbour on Tuesday afternoon with their launches after a meeting between the ministry officials and the fisher folks ended in vain.

Due to the blockade, ships cannot leave or enter the harbour, resulting in damages to the national exchequer, the report said, adding that not a single ship has been docked at the port since Wednesday afternoon.

On Wednesday, the arrival of at least seven ships to the port was postponed whereas three ships could not leave the harbour. Another ship could not be berthed at a different location due to the blockade. Today, about nine ships are expected to leave the harbour but may not exit the port due to the protest.

Read Sindh’s farmers protest artificial urea shortage

Sources said, “The ships containing petroleum products are parked in the open sea due to the protest, whereas the wheat shipments are also being delayed due to the blockade.”

According to them, the protest has also affected cement exports. The demurrage charges are also being increased due to the changes in the schedule of the ships, they added.

Failed talks

A day earlier, a dialogue between the representatives of the fisherfolk community and the government officials, including PM’s aide Mehmood Molvi, at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) head office hit a snag. The fisherfolk representatives walked out of the meeting.

Molvi said the closure of the channel due to the protest has so far disrupted the movement of eight ships. He added the talks will resume today and to resolve the issues faced by the fisher community, the federal government is in touch with Balochistan and Sindh governments as well.

Meanwhile, Sindh Trawler Owners Fishermen Association (STOFA) postponed its protest, urging the protesting fisherfolks to end the protest and take their launches to the sea.