Thousands of oil tankers bound to supply oil to the Nato forces deployed in Afghanistan could not leave Karachi even after the resumption of supplies was announced by Islamabad almost two weeks ago and likely to take at least another week.

Khaleej Times has learnt the tankers carrying oil for the Nato forces are delayed for the want of foolproof security at check posts that so far has not been provided. Also, the oil companies have not supplied oil to the tankers so far.

Another hurdle for the resumption of oil supplies is that Pakistan Oil Tankers Owners Association has demanded first reimbursement of millions of rupees owed for the supplies transported before the suspension of the supplies. The transporters had earlier announced that the supply would resume from July 17. According to a rough estimate more than 5,000 oil tankers are stuck at the Karachi Port.

Pakistan reopened routes to Nato convoys crossing into neighbouring landlocked Afghanistan on July 3 after closing them in protest against a US air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last November.

Nato traffic across the border has so far been minimal, with only a few trucks having crossed into Afghanistan since the routes were reopened.

Officials in Karachi said a dispute over the payment of demurrage for thousands of containers stuck at the port for seven months has led to the delay in restoration of supplies.

Courtesy:   Khaleej Times