20000314

PNSC to start

weekly service to

Colombo from QICT

MUZAFFAR QURESHI

KARACHI: The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) will start a weekly service to Colombo from Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) at Port Qasim from March 25, 2000.

The service so far fortnightly, will be jointly launched by PNSC and Seaconsortium, a famous Common Vessel Operator based in Singapore.

According to QICT sources, the first vessel of the service, MV Swat, of PNSC, will arrive at Port Qasim on March 25, 2000 while the second vessel, MV 'Lanka Mahapola' of Seaconsortium, will arrive at Port Qasim on April 10, 2000.

This is the first time that the PNSC, which hitherto operated from the Karachi Port, will start a shipping service from Port Qasim.

The schedule of the joint shipping service will be Colombo to Port Qasim Karachi Port and Colombo. It would greatly benefit the exporters and importers as their cargo would swiftly move to Colombo which is a big cargo transshipment centre for onward transmission of goods to Europe and USA.

Another significant advantage of the PNSC service from Port Qasim will be cost effective and quick inter port transfer of cargo landed at QICT and wanted at the Karachi Port. At present such cargo is transferred by road which involves multiple handling and loading, costing consignees too much.

Last week, Saudi National Shipping Company announced to launch a shipping service from Port Qasim. This is for the first time that vessels of Saudi National Shipping Company will launch a regular service from any Pakistani port.