Two bulk commodity vessels carrying Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer from Wuhan, Hubei (China), the epicenter of Coronavirus are expected to dock Karachi within next few days. In the light of the novel COVID-19 virus that has wreaked havoc in the global markets, the government has taken a number of precautionary measures including closing of education institutes to avert outbreak in the country.
The degree of coordination with China as a major trading partner poses a real threat of a health emergency in Pakistan. The tariff department of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has convened a meeting on Monday (today) to finalise arrangements of precautionary measures before cargo handling operations at port concerning the preventive measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
According to KPT, two bulk commodity DAP fertilizer cargo vessels M V Amber-L45 and M V VTC Glori from China are Pakistan-bound and due to arrive in March, which raises the imminent threat of a spread of Coronavirus. The port authorities have flagged their concern of a possible coronavirus spread as the officials on the ship may carry the novel virus.
A recent example at Pradip Port in India also highlights the risk of virus spread through cargo ships whereby an Indian couple was a suspected case and was immediately transferred to a quarantine facility. The risk is amplified since two of the three vessels are expected to come from Wuhan, Hubei, the epicentre of the novel coronavirus.
The port authorities need to have their utmost attention diverted towards the prevailing issue and ensure high-level of surveillance for the ships coming from China. According to industry data, the DAP inventory in Pakistan at end of February stood at 500,000 tons.
In addition, the FFBL, the sole domestic producer of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer in Pakistan, expected to produce a further 360,000 tons in the next six months. Therefore, the total inventory of 860,000 tons will be sufficient to meet the country's average consumption of 711,000 tons (based on 2015-2019 data) for the next six months without any need for import.
Some of the countries have taken strict measures to restrict the spread of virus. Their measures serve as a trail for Pakistan to follow in order to curb the plague. Singapore Port Authorities are requiring all vessels that have called at ports in mainland China over the past 14 days to submit a health declaration form.
In addition, they have also cancelled shore leaves for the crew. Similarly, Australia has refused to allow ships that have been called at Chinese ports to enter their own ports until the crew has been declared virus-free. The Government of Pakistan and the port official's lackluster response few days ago had led to a loss of 14 precious lives in Karachi when a toxic gas leak occurred near the port.
The sources in the Ministry of Ports and Shipping informed this correspondent that health declaration form will be obtained from the vessel officials, and in case of denial, the ship will continue to be docked for at least 14 days to avert any danger of a spread of coronavirus.