There has been some incomplete or wrong information about two fertilizer-laden ships arriving here from China, importers said. Fertilizers are imported every year on a regular basis since local production is not enough to meet local demand. MV. "Amber L" carrying 45,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer arrived at Karachi Port Trust yesterday, Tariq Haleem, former vice president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said.

The DAP fertilizer was manufactured in a factory located in Yichang city which is 350km from Wuhan, the epicenter of coronavirus outbreak in China. This vessel was loaded with DAP at Zhenjiang port which is 621km from Wuhan, he added.

He said MV. "VTC Glory" carrying 21,000 metric tons of AS fertilizer is expected to arrive on 18th March, 2020 at Karachi Port. This fertilizer was manufactured in a factory located in Xiuyu city in China which is 1,070km from Wuhan. This AS fertilizer was loaded at Xiuyu port in China, which is 1,070km from Wuhan.

It is also pertinent to mention here that the voyage time from China is 18 to 19 days which is anyhow more than the required quarantine period of 14 days, he added.

It may be noted that ships and cargoes are arriving here regularly from different countries around the world at the ports of Pakistan, he said adding that the ports and the maritime sector of Pakistan are aware of their responsibilities and duties especially in relation to the novel COVID-19 virus.