Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry concerned over lawlessness in Industrial port area of Port Qasim

Karachi, October 12, 2012 (PPI-OT): BQATI is deeply concerned over blatant lawlessness in the country’s largest Industrial port area of Port Qasim, caused by the violent strike of edible oil tanker drivers. For the past one week, the corner of National Highway and Port Qasim, which is the main entrance to the country’s only industrial port, has been occupied by a crowd of hundreds of edible oil tanker union members and their tankers, who are at loggerheads with ghee mills over upcountry freight rates.

This is the second strike in recent months. The strike has crippled industrial activity in the area as the protest has turned extremely violent on a number of occasions, resulting in riots, shooting and burning of cargo-carrying tankers worth millions. The burnt oil tankers stayed for weeks at the main entrance of Port Qasim, aptly portraying the state of law and order and prospects of industrial growth in the country.

The entrance to Port Qasim gets blocked and becomes extremely dangerous for staff and visitors of industries at Port Qasim to pass through. The situation is especially dangerous for foreign businessmen visiting the area and foreign nationals who are part of the management of several multinationals in the area. BQATI earnestly urges the concerned authorities and law enforcement agencies to take matters in control and prevent further damage to the already frail industrial and economic condition of Karachi.

For more information, contact:
Bin Qasim Association of Trade and Industry (BQATI)
Old MCB Building, Near Chairman Secretariat,
inside port Qasim Area, Port Qasim Authority,
Port Qasim, Karachi 75020 Pakistan
Tel: +9221 3473 0111
Fax: +9221 3520 6870
Email: info@bqati.com.pk
Web: www.bqati.com.pk