65 ships reach Gadani for scrapping

[LahoreEstate]

QUETTA: Ship-breaking industry is flourishing once again in the country as 65 more abandoned ships arrived at the Gadani’s ship-breaking yard from various countries for scrapping.

‘More ships are expected to reach Gadani,’ official sources told Dawn, adding such an activity was seen at the Gadani beach after two decades, and it would provide thousands of jobs to area people.

‘These ships would produce around half a million tons of scrap for steel industry in the country,’ sources said.

‘Around rupees one billion has, so far, been generated from customs duty and income tax,’ said Additional Collector Customs Gadani Ali Sher Bhihan.

Pakistan’s ship-breaking industry was at its zenith in the 70s when up to 150 ships had been brought to Gadani’s ship-breaking yard.

However, the industry lost its charm in the 90s when rates of ships increased and the PML-N government imposed duty on ship-breaking.

However, as scrap smuggling from Iran and Afghanistan to Pakistan stopped, it proved a boon for local ship-breaking industry.

‘The local steel industry is now depending on Gadani’s ship- breaking industry for scrap as its smuggling stopped from Iran and Afghanistan,’ said a source.

Sources said rates of abandoned ships have been reduced in the international market due to economic recession.

Balochistan would also get more financial resources with a boost in the ship-breaking industry in Gadani.

The provincial government is providing maximum facilities to ship-breakers at Gadani’s ship-breaking yard.

http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn...ing--za-10