KARACHI: President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Agha Shahab Ahmed Khan has said that everyone including the Federal, Provincial and Local Governments are doing politics over the Kemari incident which must stop as it is actually hurting the economic & business activities of Karachi and Pakistan. “Any disruption in the activities at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) would obviously have a deep negative impact on the overall economic performance of Karachi as this port contributes the highest revenue to the national exchequer as compared to other ports”, he added.
In a statement issued, Agha Shahab, while expressing deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of 14 people who died of suffocation in this incident, stressed that instead of doing politics over dead bodies of innocent people, a thorough investigation must be initiated and whosoever is responsible must be strictly punished.
He said that although it is widely being claimed since yesterday that it was being caused by soybean dust from a particular shipment but it is highly unlikely as around 25 consignments arrive at KPT each year and no such incident has ever been reported. “Shifting the suspicious consignment to Port Qasim is not the solution hence there is a dire need to carry out a detailed forensic investigation and truth must emerge while the actual culprits responsible for this disaster must be strictly taken to task”, he added.
He pointed out that it is a well-known fact that land grabbers are actively carrying out their illegal activities in the localities near Karachi port hence, the investigators will have to seriously examine whether this conspiracy has been hatched by such elements to achieve any other goals.
President KCCI, while expressing deep sympathies with bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident, stressed that any negligence either by port authorities, shipping lines or any other department must be strictly dealt and if any culprit or the elements from land mafia are found responsible for the disaster, they must be given exemplary punishment.
He also urged all the political parties at the federal, provincial and local governments to refrain from shinning their politics over the tragic Kemari incident, jointly carry out forensic investigation and devise an effective strategy to avoid such incidents in future. “KPT is an important port for the business and industrial community of entire Pakistan hence, strategies have to be defined on war footing basis to ensure uninterrupted working at this crucial port”, he added.
