KARACHI: About 50,000 packages weighting over 5,000 tons bound for Afghanistan are still lying at the Karachi Port, occupying a vast area. These Afghan goods are, however, being moved slowly by the Afghan clearing agents here to Kabul via Khuramshahr (Iran) by ships under the directions of the Afghan government.

There were in all about 90,000 packages weighing nearly 10,000 tons, bound for Afghanistan, lying at the port since the rupture of diplomatic relations between the two countries about a year ago. Some of the packages were diverted to Kabul via India both by sea and rail, while the rest are reaching Afghanistan via Iran. These goods were also sent via Peshawar when the land route was re-opened under an agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan this year.

A Karachi Port Trust spokesman said yesterday that there was still no move to auction the Afghan goods, and the agents were being allowed to re-book them via Iran. — Staff Correspondent