Coal transporters continue facing hurdles

Port Qasim Authority (PQA), the prime handler of imported coal is not paying any attention on smooth transportation of this commodity, transporters said.
Currently trucks are waiting for more then three to four days at Port Qasim to lift the cargo, they said. There are hundreds of trucks in waiting and have blocked the road up to 3-4 kilometres. Industries which are in South region are also suffering as transporting coal to them usually takes four to five hours which has now gone up to 1-2 days, they said adding that the industries situated upcountry are the ones suffering the most, which took 2-3 days to reach has gone up to 7-8 days due to traffic congestion at Port Qasim.
Since July 2018 on the directives of Supreme Court of Pakistan, all imported coal is being handled at Port Qasim Authority (PQA). Pakistan imports coal in access of 13-14 million tons per annum and almost 80 percent of the quantity is transported to upcountry as an energy fuel to different industries including cement, power, steel and textile sector. This demand was created when many industries shifted from furnace oil to coal in 2002 as it was a much cheaper alternative and still remains.
Later on, its demand further increased in 2012 due to acute shortage of gas to the industries and then due to commissioning of imported coal-based power plants in our country.
From 2002 till now the demand has drastically increased but unfortunately government has not taken any step in proper handling of coal and to facilitate the industries dependent on it. "Chairman Port Qasim during Supreme Courts hearing pledged to handle and facilitate the coal handling at Port Qasim but unfortunately we are still facing hurdles in our work", Muhammad Taufeeq, working at Ghaffar Transport Company said.
It is pertinent to mention here that delays in lifting cargo will eventually cause delay in discharging cargo which will result in millions of dollars of demurrage to be paid to ship owners all due to negligence of regulating authorities, he said.
The transporters said that Port Qasim Authority has blocked the right of way to coal warehouse near there terminal. As it takes time to arrange transport for upcountry large importers move their cargo to nearby coal yards and then move cargo and when transport is available for upcountry to avoid demurrages at port and to provide space for new upcoming vessels at the terminal. As Port Qasim has provided limited space to the terminal and coal cannot be stored for more than 15 days at terminal.