Supreme Court Stops Karachi Port Trust from Handling Coal

The Supreme Court (SC) has banned coal handling at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) in order to control marine pollution and protect the people living around the port. This decision also gives a boost to Pakistan International Bulk Terminal located at Port Qasim.

Chief Justice (CJ) Mian Saqib Nisar spent a busy day at Karachi hearing different cases and Sou Motu notices at the Karachi registry. The CJ also proceeded with the Suo Motu notice about handling coal at KPT. Chairman KPT Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar and other stakeholders were present at the court. The case was held in two different sessions today.


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In the morning session, Jamil Akhtar told the court that he is willing to stop handling coal at KPT and wishes to shift it to Port Qasim Authority (PQA) but a strong lobby of importers threatened to sue him at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The lawyer representing coal importers said that they need time to build a terminal at KPT. But CJ refused to give more time for building the new terminal. He summoned all stakeholders including coal importers for the evening session.

In the evening, the Chief Justice announced his decision banned off loading coal at KPT and open storage in the city. He also ordered to make necessary arrangements at PQA for the handling of coal.

Mian Saqib Nisar also expressed his discomfort that the investors don’t care about the health and lives of the common people because coal dust is causing diseases.

“Nobody cares that coal dust is causing illness, I will not let people of Karachi live in this dust. Coal handling in the city center is like playing with human lives.” said the Chief Justice.

Supreme Court’s historic decision will help boost clean handling of imported coal in Pakistan. This decision will help Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT) boost its business and also lay the road map in dirty cargo handling.

Since long, the media had reported on coal dust pollution and at last, the SC gave a historic verdict to stop this health hazerd. According to environmental specialists, that coal dust can cause a range of health problems, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.

No one from PQA was available to comment on SC’s orders and about the arrangements they will make for the handling of coal. It seems that coal cargo will be shifted to Pakistan International Bulk Cargo Terminal (PIBT). Because PIBT is the only terminal which can handle dirty cargo in an environmentally friendly manner.

PIBT is a subsidiary of the Marine Group. ProPakistani tried to contact Asim Siddique, Director Marine Group, but he was out of the country and was not available to comment on this development.

PIBT is Pakistan’s first port terminal which can handle dirty cargo without harming the environment. PIBT has a capacity for handling upto 12 million tons of Coal and 4 million tons of Cement & Clinker per year, which can together be further enhanced up to 20 million tons per year.

“PIBT has become an integral part of the coal supply chain upto the entry gates of power and cement plants located across the country.” the company claims.

PIBT started its operations on May 2017 and was inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbsai in October last year. The building cost was $285 million. This mega port project was financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), OPEC Fund for International Development, along with a syndicate of local Pakistani commercial & conventional banks. PIBT is the first port terminal listed in Pakistan Stock Exchange.



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