FAISALABAD, July 11: The Chairman, Faisalabad Dry Port Trust, Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh, on Friday said Sargodha would soon have a dry port terminal, and, in this regard, a three acres of land on Bhalwal-Sargodha Road had already been purchased.

Talking to newsmen, he said that over 5000 containers of citrus were exported every season from Sargodha where 56 kinoo polishing-grading factories were already functioning. The construction of terminal at Sargodha would start after getting proper sanction from the Central Board of Revenue and other authorities concerned.

Giving details about the previous year’s progress, he said that FDPT handled 26653 export cargo containers during the financial year of 2002-03 having the value of Rs45 billion as against 24920 export containers handled in 2001-02.

Like exports, the imports at Faisalabad Dry Port also registered the increase of 1165 import containers in 2002-03 as it handled 5217 import cargo containers during the same period as against 4052 containers handled during the last year, he added.

He attributed the achievement of the FDP to certain facilities extended to the exporters and importers. Enumerating these facilities, he said that the FDPT has set up ‘on-line tracking system’ and established five check posts at Shorkot, Sahiwal, Rahim Yar Khan, Morro and Nooriabad. The exporters and importers and even foreign buyers could now locate the exact position of their enroute cargo by using the FDP’s web- site.

“We have also introduced the ‘double-shift’ at Faisalabad Dry Port to ensure same day dispatch of export cargo at Karachi after customs clearance.

Moreover, the FDPT has also reduced its tariff for exports and waiver of some portion of the demurrage in case of regular importers, he said.

FDPT Chief said that it had also provided the customs laboratory facilities to exporters and importers, one- window operation facility in Customs Facilitation Centre, provision of spacious Ware Houses for storage of import goods, automation of exports and imports and installation of the computerized weigh bridge for accurate weighing of the cargo.

He claimed that FDPT had purchased 6 acres of adjoining private land near local Dry Port for the construction of Edible Oils Terminals. Moreover, this space could be used for the establishment of empty container terminals by different shipping lines.