KARACHI: Rear Admiral (R) Syed Hassan Nasir Shah has assumed the charge as Chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA), replacing Asad Chandna as its chairman, who had allegedly allowed the Qasim International Container Terminal (QICT) to hire Indians at key posts. Customs Today exclusively reported on the issue and exposed major irregularities committed by the QICT high-ups in connivance with the then PQA chairman Asad Chandna.
In pursuance of Establishment Division’s Notification No. 1/47/2016-E-6 dated 12th July, 2019, Rear Admiral (R) Syed Hassan Nasir Shah has assumed the charge as Chairman Port Qasim Authority (PQA) in MP Scale-1 for a period of three years with immediate effect and until further orders.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Qasim International Containers Terminal (QICT) had violated the agreement with Port Qasim Authority (PQA) by appointing Indian officials at key posts through a foreign holding company without the approval of the Ministry of Interior (MoI). But Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) and PQA chairman Asad Rafi Chandna failed to take any action against QICT senior officials Nusrat Khan, Aly Khan, Junaid Zamir and others for handing over control of the terminal to a foreign holding company with 75% shares without MoI clearance and allowing Indian officials’ appointment at this most sensitive location.
Experts say PQA chairman Asad Chandna kept mum over the issue even after so much coverage by the media and did not take action against the QICT for giving 75% share to a foreign company without its NOC, adding that Asad Chandna should have terminated license of the QICT for violating the agreement.