Experts for overhaul of port safety ecosystem

Ports and shipping experts have called for improving the security and safety ecosystem at ports, while expressing grave concerns over it and urging the authorities concerned to ensure four facets — maritime safety, marine environmental protection, maritime law enforcement, and national defence — forthwith. Pakistan International Bulk Terminal Limited (PIBTL), located at the Port Qasim Authority (PQA), suffered a sudden fire due to the discharging of highly combustible Tanzanian-origin coal recently, prompting the terminal to serve letters of protest to clients for bringing such combustible cargo. The fire was quickly brought under control, nobody was injured, and repairs or replacement work has been initiated without delay. The experts said foreign exchange drains out of Pakistan in the shape of millions of dollars in terms of demurrage.