960404

Foreign trade

cut to half

during 2-day

shut down

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Foreign trade suffered a great loss during the two days strike called by the MQM to mourn the alleged extra-judicial killings of its workers.

Imports and exports during Wednesday and Thursday were reduced by at least 50 percent due to thin attendance in the clearing agents offices, according to Haji Ahmed of Spacious Shipping Agency.

He said that Customs examination and deliveries of goods at the Karachi Port were normal during the strike. However, low turnout in clearing agents offices and lack of transport hampered the export and import trade.

Movement of ships and cargo handling at the Karachi Port continued during the strike. A KPT Traffic Department official told Business Recorder that strikes always affected working at the port to some extent, but clearnace of goods was upto 70 percent of the normal on Wednesday and Thursday. In all 1936 tonnes of cargo was delivered from the East Wharf on Wednesday.

Ship movement remained normal at the Karachi Port on Thursday. There were two arrivals on Thursday while six ships sailed from the port. Attendance at the port was better on Thursday compared to Wednesday.