KICT crowded by import containers: over $550 million export cargoes may not be shipped for three days

Over $550 million export consignments are unlikely to be shipped for the next 72 hours from Karachi International Containers Terminal (KICT) because the space is occupied by imported cargoes last eight days.
Sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that a large number of imported goods containers has not been cleared because of transporters'' strike, putting immense burden at KICT where there is no space for export cargo. They said that the around 5000 imported goods containers would take at least three more days to be taken out of KICT.
They said that the KICT management has decided to stop processing export consignments for over 72 hours. Sources in KICT said that the terminal has not stopped processing export consignments, and added that the management has asked exporters to send lesser number of consignments during the next three days.
"Although KICT has not enough space left for containers where around 10000 containers are lying for some eight days, the process to clear export consignments has not been stopped to facilitate the exporters". Meanwhile, Karachi Goods Carrier Association (KGCA) has called off the strike and has started transporting cargo from Tuesday evening.
Sources in KGCA told Business Recorder that the government had agreed to reduce 40 percent toll tax, which would be exercised from 2009. However, association members stressed the need of reducing diesel prices, and pressed Niazi to continue strike till its reduction.
Niazi was beaten up by them and was forcibly made to announce to continue the strike on Monday midnight, they added. They said that the law enforcement agencies and other concern authorities have taken up the issue and resolved it and added that transporters have finally resumed transportation activities from Tuesday evening.