200,000 MTs of Russian wheat processed

Remaining wheat to be handled is around 250,000 MTs

BEIJING:

Gwadar port has successfully handled 200,000 metric tonnes of wheat imports from Russia in just 25 days, according to a China Overseas Ports Holding Company (COPHC) official.

The rest of the wheat to be processed at Gwadar Port is around 250,000 metric tonnes. Four vessels, MV Lila Chennai, MV Rich, MV Veruda and MV Dorado, out of a total of nine carrying the wheat have already arrived at the port.

Gwadar Port saw zero handling loss for the discharge and dispatch of wheat since the first ship was anchored on March 2. All loading, offloading, and transportation have been handled with precision. Trucks loaded with wheat are exclusively using the Eastbay Expressway, which connects Gwadar Port with Makran Coastal Highway, bypassing the congested city roads of Gwadar.

The Eastbay Expressway which exclusively connects Gwadar Port to the Makran Coastal Highway, bypassing city roads, is the sole route being used for the movement of wheat-loaded trucks.

Previously the trucks used to squeeze through the congested city roads of Gwadar which not only added extra load on the city arteries but also impaired the flow of movement of trucks, said Haji Razzaq, a transporter.

Several organisations, including the China Overseas Ports Holding Company, Trading Corporation of Pakistan, Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Limited, Pakistan Customs, National Logistics Cell, Gwadar Free Zone, and GITL, are working together to keep operations running smoothly.

The Ministry of National Food Security and Research official said that NLC has been transporting wheat through the shortest and most feasible route to PASSCO storage centers to lift the assigned quantity of million metric tons of wheat under G2G arrangements from Gwadar Port. Passco storages are located in 13 Zones and 16 Districts of the country.

The remaining wheat stock is being stored in open Gunjees in scientific ways and procedures. ECC, in its meeting held on July 28, 2022, allowed the import of wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) and directed MNFS&R to submit a logistic plan of Passco for transportation of imported wheat for consideration of ECC.

The import of wheat using Gwadar Port is a new milestone and will spur up trade activities and boost employment opportunities, according to the Gwadar International Terminals Limited official.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 28^th, 2023.

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