Cement-makers have asked the federal government to allow the discharge of imported coal at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) as their demurrage mounts on account of the alleged mishandling of cargo at Pakistan International Bulk Terminal (PIBT), the country’s only coal-handling terminal with a single dedicated berth at Port Qasim. According to the coal vessel lineup at PIBT, ships are facing delays of 10 to 20 days in discharging their cargoes. In separate letters to the ministers for power and maritime affairs, the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) demanded that the government should make multiple berths available for coal handling at KPT to minimise demurrage. The cement industry consumes more than half of all annual coal imports handled at PIBT. Cement sales are rising across the country amid the government’s focus on the construction sector. They grew almost 50 per cent last month on a year-on-year basis.