Staff Reporter
The government has clarified news item appearing in section of press regarding fertilizer cargo. The statement issued said that ports and the maritime sector aware of their responsibilities and duties especially in relation to the novel COVID-19 virus. We are all working 24/7 to make sure that the wheels of commerce keep turning. Fertilizers are essential commodities needed in Pakistan as essential crop inputs. These fertilizers are imported every year on a regular basis since local production is not enough to meet local demand. There has been some incomplete/wrong information about two ships carrying fertilizer cargoes arriving here from China. MV. “Amber L” carrying 45,000 metric tons of DAP fertilizer which has arrived at Karachi Port Trust Tuesday 17th March, 2020. The DAP fertilizer was manufactured in a factory located in Yichang city which is 350 km away from Wuhan. This vessel was loaded with DAP from Zhenjiang port which is 621 km away from Wuhan. MV. “VTC Glory” carrying 21,000 metric tons of AS fertilizer is expected to arrive on 18th March, 2020 at Karachi Port. This fertilizer was manufactured in a factory located in Xiuyu city in China which is 1,070 km away from Wuhan. This AS fertilizer was loaded from Xiuyu port in China which is 1,070 km away from Wuhan. It is also pertinent to mention here that the voyage time from China is 18 to 19 days which is anyhow more than the required quarantine period of 14 days. It may be noted that ships and cargoes are arriving here regularly from different countries around the world at the ports of Pakistan.
