Reported by: `Mubeen Hussain December 29, 2016

KPT faces slow pace of work due to strike

KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is facing slow pace of work after labourers of the Karachi Dock Labor Board declared a strike named “go slow” for the acceptance of their demands.

According to sources, the “go slow” strike is causing demurrage worth millions of rupees to the importers as the cargo vessels are being berthed at the port very late due to slow pace of work.

The Dock Labor Board is protesting because the labourers have been restricted from working at under-construction Pakistan Deep Water Container Port (PDWCP). The port is being built under the supervision of the Chinese workers, informed the source.

The source also said that the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) authorities are in talks with the labourers to sort out the issue but the protesters have rejected any discussion until their demands are fulfilled.

The source also revealed that due to the strike, more than five general cargo containers as well as oil vessels are still not berthed and kept off the port area.

Authorities are optimistic that the ongoing strike will end soon because this strike is putting negative impact on the national economy.