(Staff Report) :-
Trucks-led transportation of 50000 metric tons of imported Russian wheat from Gwadar port to designated national depots of Pakistan Agriculture Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) is set to commence on Friday.
At present cranes at Gwadar port are in full action serving to offload wheat from ship that docked on 2nd March last week to the trucks through state of art machineries with skilled man power. National Logistic Cell (NLC) is finalizing the operational transportation procedures in collaboration with TCP, PASSCO, NLC, Navy 3rd FP, Army 440, DC Gwadar, Gwadar Customs, Dock Security, GITL and GPA.
Instead of manual, Web-Based One Custom Clearance System (WeBOC) will be used to process the wheat stuff from Gwadar Port. WeBOC in Gwadar Port ensures automation, standardisation and harmonisation of all trade procedures and logistic services related to land, air and sea routes under Pakistan Single Window (PSW). “It will increase the efficiency of consignment processing,” All Gwadar Shipping Clearing Agent Association official told Gwadar Pro.
Gwadar Port Authority official said that since transportation and logistic activities has been picking momentum in Gwadar Port, a vibrant e-Custom will bolster entire business activities.
GPA official said that Gwadar port has a track record of zero handling loss for the discharge and despatch of all cargo stuff. “All the relevant departments are seeking alternate terrestrial routes to and from Gwadar port in order to increase economic activities in Balochistan. Last month Ministry of Communication identified 4 new alternate trade routes through Balochistan.
On a question how does Gwadar port surpass to other ports in Pakistan in terms of handling and processing wheat consignments, All Gwadar Shipping Clearing Agents Association (AGSCAA) member said that the facts are that the Gwadar Port is more economical than any other port like KPT and Qasim Ports.
“Both the said ports are always congested and ships go to demurrage and the storage charges of KPT and Qasim Ports are very high. However, at the Gwadar Port there are no demurrage and storage charges, along with the quickest stevedoring services. It can be checked by the previous record of TCP,” he added. Rest of eight vessels with a cumulative tonnage capacity of 4,00000 will be drifting toward Gwadar Port soon.
