Commissioner seeks details of ammonium nitrate storage in city

The Karachi commissioner, Iftikhar Shallwani, has directed the deputy commissioners (DC) of Karachi and different industrial associations to submit details of the storage of ammonium nitrate and other hazardous dual-use precursor chemicals lying with them.

The commissioner, in this regard, has written to the East, West, South, Malir, Central and Korangi DCs, and chairmen of the Korangi, Landhi, Federal B Area, North Karachi and Bin Qasim associations of trade and industry.

He requested them in the letter to provide the details of storage of ammonium nitrate and other dual use precursor chemical available in the port areas and industrial zones to his office as soon as possible.

The letter has been written in the wake of massive explosions in Beirut which rocked its capital city Lebanon. It is believed that 2,750 metric tons of explosive ammonium nitrate stored at a warehouse caused the explosion.