The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has approached the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources (MoPNR) to convey its concern over the lukewarm response on the part of the Oil Companies Advisory Committee (OCAC), Terminal Association of Pakistan (TAP), All Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association (APOTOA), and the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in connection with taking immediate security measures to guard the "strategically important" oil installations area (OIA) in Keamari in the wake of September 14, 2009 terrorist attack.
According to sources, following a failed terrorist attack to hit the oil terminals located in the "volatile" neighbourhood of Shirin Jinnah Colony, Keamari, the Sindh Home Department had on September 16 convened an emergency meeting of representatives from KPT, OCAC, TAP, APOTOA, the law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders, which had decided that KPT should immediately provide barriers and check posts besides constructing a security wall with gates around the OIA to check and control the unauthorised human and vehicular movement in the area.
Ever since the boundary work has started the KPT, which is responsible for guarding the port security area, including East Wharf, West Wharf and TPX, under the International Ships' and Port Security (ISPS) Code, has been facing resistance from the members of APOTOA, who have "several time" broken part of the constructed wall, they added.
"Ultimately, the work had to be suspended on the advice of Home Department due to law and order problems," the KPT told the MoPNR in a letter made available to Business Recorder. Sources said the KPT, after installing barriers on approaches to the road between Shirin Jinnah Colony and Keamari, and constructing check posts on the approved locations for the police and Rangers, would build a boundary wall of 3,400 feet long, of which around 800 feet had been completed.
They said despite being provided with a written undertaking by the KPT on the advice of DIGP South, the APOTOA was sabotaging the construction work and stressing that the parking issue should be settled before the building of wall. According to sources, whereas the TPO Keamari and DIGP South had assured the Trust of their full support in the stand-off, the law enforcers were witnessed standing idle whenever the "tanker mafia" showed up to break the half-built security wall.
Further, in line with the issue of providing parking facility to oil tankers, the real bone of contention, the KPT had repeatedly been asking the OCAC and TAP, who are well aware of the intended vehicular movement in the area, to take over and manage the parking area but in vain. "Unfortunately, there has been no willingness from their side despite persuasion even by the Special Home Secretary," laments the letter.
Sources told Business Recorder that Karachi Port's operator was also complainant of the oil companies, which had sent "2nd and 3rd line managers" to attend the October 29th meeting called by the KPT in view of the security of, as the KPT's letter reads, "volatile" area.
"The KPT convened a high level meeting... wherein minister for transport, special home secretary, CCPO, DCO, Town Nazim Keamari and managing director/chief executives of various companies were invited... (but) minister for transport and other government officials attended whereas the Companies 2nd/3rd line managers attended which clearly reflects their interest in the security of this sensitive area," the letter says.
Sources said that to ensure seaward security of the OIA the KPT had illuminated the adjoining area to check any incursion, while mobile and boat patrols were being undertaken regularly by the Port Security Force to cover the harbour.
"Considering the strategic importance of the area and its direct effects on KPT's oil handling... it is requested that Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources be involved to persuade the OCAC to proactively manage the traffic and security of the area," the letter notes with concern. The KPT had also sought help of the public representatives to harness support of the area people, sources said.