The terrified authorities at the country’s seaports are believed to have declared red alert after the Sunday’s terrorist attack on Karachi International Airport that left at least 19 people killed and 26 others injured.
It was just last month on May 6 and 7 when the strategically-sensitive oil installation area of Keamari that is adjacent to Karachi port came under terrorist attack in which improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were planted under different oil tankers.
The deadly airport incident, according to official sources, has put the naval and civilian managements of Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim Authority (PQA) at high alert.
Amid enhanced patrolling, security has been beefed up at the country’s two congested seaports where currently at least 26 vessels with local and international flags are berthed.
The KPT’s shipping intelligence report shows that presently at least eight ships are anchored at the East and West wharves of Karachi port. Two vessels are awaiting berthing at the outer anchorage while 15 more are expected to arrive at the country’s largest seaport on varying schedules.
At Port Qasim, at least 11 ships are being handled at different dedicated terminals, while five have been registered for docking within next couple of days. The port’s daily shipping and cargo statement has put the expected arrivals of ships at four.
MORE SECURITY:
Official sources at the two ports told Pakistan Today that to make security water tight some extra measures had been taken in and around the two ports.
“The security has been beefed up through increased deployment and patrolling at the port’s head office as well as port area,” said a KPT official who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to the media.
The official said oil piers and all the entry and exit points of the strategic Karachi port, which has mostly been run by the working and retired officers from Pakistan Navy, were the focus of security measures.
“Besides mobilising a rapid response team, the Port Security Force (PSF) has been put on high alert,” the official added.
KPT maintains a strong armed force of some 850 PSF personnel which besides guarding the port is mobilised by the port operator in case of encroachment on its land.
Also, the KPT has installed at the head office and port area an apparently strong vigilance system, featuring walkthrough gates, prominently.
Asked if KPT had received some special orders from the terrorism-hit federal government, the official said such instructions keep coming. However, he was unsure about any orders in the wake of Sunday’s airport incident.
DOWNPLAYING THE ATTACK:
PQA Chairman Agha Jan Akhtar also tried to downplay the Sunday’s terrorist attack saying his side was closely working with the law enforcement agencies already.
“We, prior to this attack, had carried out a joint survey with the police to cover issues pertaining to security and cargo handling,” the chairman told Pakistan Today.
He claimed that the port and all the terminals therein were “very much protected”. The PQA chief however did not deny that the terrorist airport assault had put the authority on alert.
“All (such) incidents always put you on alert,” Akhtar maintained.
As for Gwadar Port, the country’s deepest seaport is practically nonoperational since its previous operators from Port of Singapore Authority had abandoned it to be operated by the Chinese from February last year.
Cargo handling at Gwadar port is confined to the Trading Commission of Pakistan’s captive cargo that too is very rare due to lack of the much-needed hinterland connectivity.
Pakistan Navy is taking care of the security of the strategically-located seaport that is situated in the insurgency-hit Baluchistan.
