The national exchequer had to suffer at least 0.12452 million euros (0.1958 million dollars) loss due to an unnecessary delay by the Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in operating a pilot boat and tug, whose disputed hiring had recently been carried out by the Authority.
Sources told Business Recorder on Friday that an ASD tug and a pilot boat, which as per tender were to be five years old and two years respectively, had arrived at Port Qasim on May 30, 2008 after the PQA unilaterally signed a two-year hiring contract with a Dutch company M/s Smit on April 2, 2008 without taking a timely approval from its Board.
But, they said the two vessels, which have been hired by the PQA at a high cost of at least Rs 450 million for the next two years, remained non-operational at the port from May 30 to June 20, 2008. According to sources the 22-days' non-functionality of the said tug and pilot boat, for which the PQA has to pay 3,825 euros (US $6000) and 1,835 euros (US $2900) per day, cost the Authority 1,24,520 euros in total.
They said even on 20th of June PQA had no serious intention to bring the two vessels in operation, but it was the constant pressure from Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) and the contracting company (M/s Smit) itself, which compelled the Authority to start using the costly vessels. The QICT, sources said, had warned the PQA that an accident was likely to take place in the navigational channel due to the monsoon season during which the sea witnesses the highest level of tide.
The PQA management had justified the 22-day delay in usage of the vessels by saying that it was waiting for what sources said a "post facto" approval of the Port Qasim Board. The delay was due to some customs related formalities and the administrative permission for operation of the vessels was also to be sought from the PQA Board, said a PQA official. Chairman PQA Vice Admiral Syed Afzal and Captain Hashmatullah Shah Director General Operation did not receive the phone when this scribe tried to contact the two officials for comments.
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