KARACHI, Jan 26: President, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Majyd Aziz, has said that all cargo handling companies at the Port Qasim have stopped operations, resulting in cessation of loading and unloading of essential items, like rice, solvents, oil seeds, etc.

The chamber is getting frantic calls from businessmen who fear shortages immediately after Ashura.

Some PQA officials have created this situation by arbitrarily enforcing conditions that are against the sprit of doing business, he said.

In a statement, he said cargo handling companies have refused to accept illegal and unjustified demands of the officials who have retaliated by enforcing interest at 36 per cent per annum on false claims of PQA on these companies.

These officials are threatening to encash bank guarantees given by the companies.

Majyd Aziz demanded of the PQA chairman to issue immediate orders to the officials for stopping this behaviour and ensure port working in full speed.