Pakistan’s export sector is experiencing significant disruptions as shipping lines have suspended vessel movements to the Middle East, leaving hundreds of export containers stranded at local ports, senior business leaders warned on Saturday. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, Senior Vice President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) and Chairman of BMP-Progressive (BMPP), stated that the sudden halt of vessel operations has brought export logistics to a standstill, exposing exporters to substantial financial losses.
He explained that exporters had prepared their consignments according to shipment schedules, but with vessels no longer arriving, terminal operators are now requesting that exporters retrieve their containers. “Bringing containers back to the factories and then returning them to the port later will incur massive additional costs, which many exporters simply cannot absorb,” he remarked.
Mr Magoon urged the government to immediately introduce a minimum 30-day special relief window at all ports and to fully waive demurrage and detention charges in light of the extraordinary situation. He emphasised that such measures are crucial to prevent exporters from experiencing crippling losses.
He noted that escalating tensions in the Middle East have prevented several cargo vessels from anchoring at Pakistani ports, and that ships scheduled to depart are now avoiding Gulf destinations altogether, resulting in a significant number of export containers stranded at the docks.
In a discussion with Rafiq Suleman, Convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice Exporters, Mr Magoon highlighted that rice consignments have been particularly affected. He pointed out that profit margins in the rice export sector are already slim, and any forced offloading of containers and re-transportation of goods back to warehouses will sharply increase handling and logistics costs, leading to heavy financial losses for exporters. Magoon stressed the urgency for the government to take steps to support the export sector, warning that maintaining exports under the current circumstances is vital for the country’s economy.
