KARACHI, Dec 19 (DNA): The port authorities have suspended lifting
soybean cargo from a ship anchored at Karachi Port after complaints of
breathing problems in people, Port and Shipping sources Saturday said.

A ship, Mega Benefit, carrying 67,000 metric tonnes of soybean cargo
from Egypt had anchored yesterday at Karachi Port.

Over complaints of smoke spreading in the area, Chairman of Karachi Port
Trust inspected the port area.

Local MNA Abdul Qadir Patel had in a social media statement said that
eight people were admitted at a hospital due to breathing problems.

In January this year 14 people from different parts of the port area had
reportedly died and over 400 taken to hospitals for treatment after
allegedly inhaling toxic gas.

Dr Iqbal Chaudhry, the Director of International Center for Chemical and
Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi had advised the
government to consider “exposure to soybean dust (aeroallergens)” as a
cause of breathing difficulties being faced by residents of Karachi’s
Keamari area.

Residents complained of symptoms of breathing difficulties, burning
sensation in the nose, watery eyes and itching in throat.

Dr Choudhary said that the findings so far suggested that the symptoms
being experienced by the area residents as a result of “overexposure to
soybean dust”. DNA

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