Stealing of accessories rampant at West Wharf: Imported second-hand vehicles
By Aamir Shafaat Khan
KARACHI, April 24: Precious accessories of imported used cars, jeeps and sports utility vehicles (SUVs) are being stolen at the Karachi Port and finding their way into the markets.
Used car dealers said that it had been observed that most of the car-carrier vessels were being accommodated berths at the West Wharf and after unloading these vehicles were being parked at different unsafe places resulting in theft of accessories besides causing severe damages to them.
They said that accessories like CD player, TV navigation, back camera, head lights, back lights, tyres, allow rim, side mirrors, mono grams, etc., were being stolen.
“These stolen parts are available in Shershah, Jackson Bazar and Plaza markets and the importers/dealers have to suffer massive losses on re-purchasing of these accessories,” they added.
All Pakistan Motor Dealers Association (APMDA) Chairman H.M. Shahzad said that the association had taken up the matter with the KPT chairman following the cases of stolen accessories had gained momentum last month.
He said his members had verbally lodged the complaint to the KPT officials.
In a letter to the KPT chief, he said that car dealers assumed that berthing committee was working on the will and wish of some influential people who induced them to do so. “Even ship agents’ humble request for berthing such vessels at East Wharf has been turned down. More over the car-carrier vessel has to wait at the outer anchorage for more than 12 hours only to create space at the West Wharf,” he asserted.
He said that car dealers had observed good administrative arrangements at East Wharf where it was easy to discharge vehicles from the vessel within 10-12 hours and with proper and safer stacking of units in systemic way followed by safer deliveries to concerned port users.
Mr Shahzad said that there was no complain till the car handling was being done at East Wharf and even the ship agents were satisfied. Not a single complaint had been received during discharging, stacking and deliveries of said vessels’ units.
Clearing cars from the East Wharf was taking least time to reach the destination. Taking deliveries of vehicles from West Wharf was much time consuming process i.e. tracing the vehicle, completing the formalities and due to long hours of traffic congestions.
He urged the KPT chairman to take notice of the situation and take appropriate steps in resolving the problems confronted by car dealers.
Meanwhile, sources said that the KPT chairman was reported to have asked the Traffic Department officials about the ongoing stealing of accessories. The car dealers had also been asked for a possible meeting with the KPT chairman on this issue.Import of used cars and other vehicles surged in 2005-2006 to 48,000 units as compared to 7,500 units in 2004-2005.
