Following a 10-day strike by goods transporters, both Karachi Port and Port Qasim in Pakistan are experiencing significant congestion, with countless containers accumulating at private terminals. This ongoing situation has necessitated changes to port operations and has led to escalating costs for businesses, including hefty demurrage fees. In response to these pressing challenges, three prominent trade organizations—the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the SITE Association of Industry, and the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI)—have united in a collective appeal to the federal government, urging the elimination of the demurrage and detention charges that have accumulated due to the strike.
The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), a vital stakeholder in the region’s economy, has formally approached the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, calling for immediate intervention. The KCCI has requested that direct shipping lines, terminal operators, and port authorities waive, suspend, or significantly reduce demurrage and detention charges for consignments that have remained stagnant at ports solely because of the nationwide strike by goods transporters from December 8 to 17, 2025.
In a letter directed to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, Zubair Motiwala, Chairman of the Businessmen Group, along with Rehan Hanif, President of KCCI, expressed their concerns about the extraordinary circumstances resulting from the transporters’ strike. They underscored the severe financial distress caused to the trading and industrial community. The strike led to almost a complete halt in cargo movement to and from Karachi Port, Port Qasim, and associated terminals. During this period, both import and export consignments became immobilized at the ports and terminals, with no accountability on the part of consignees or shippers. Consequently, businesses faced mounting demurrage and container detention charges accruing daily.
The representatives of KCCI highlighted the crippling impact of this prolonged disruption on supply chains, production cycles, and export commitments. Exporters found themselves grappling with shipment delays, order cancellations, and loss of credibility with international buyers. Simultaneously, importers were unable to clear essential raw materials and inputs vital for their industrial operations. The demurrage and detention charges imposed during this forced cessation of activities have become an unbearable financial burden, particularly for small and medium enterprises. This situation poses a real threat to already slender profit margins in an economically challenging environment characterized by elevated energy costs, rising interest rates, and general cost pressures.
Throughout this turbulent period, KCCI remained deeply engaged, mediating between the goods transporters, port stakeholders, and relevant authorities. Motiwala and Hanif reiterated that the continued paralysis of cargo movement constituted economic sabotage and risked long-term damage to national trade and exports. KCCI’s persistent efforts in advocacy and engagement were crucial in facilitating dialogue aimed at restoring normal operations. However, the enduring financial repercussions of the disruption still linger in the form of accrued demurrage and detention liabilities.
In light of this ongoing crisis, KCCI has urged the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to take immediate action by directing shipping lines, terminal operators, and port authorities to waive, suspend, or substantially reduce demurrage and detention charges for consignments that have remained stuck at ports solely due to the transporters’ strike. Furthermore, they have called for extraordinary facilitation measures to expedite the clearance of the container backlog, enabling trade to return to normal without imposing further financial strain on the business community. KCCI firmly believes that timely intervention will not only alleviate immediate losses for businesses but also restore confidence in the government’s commitment to supporting trade and industry amid unforeseen challenges.
The SITE Association of Industry echoed KCCI’s sentiments, appealing to the federal government to waive demurrage and detention charges levied on consignments delayed at ports due to the recent strike. SITE President Ahmed Azeem Alvi shared his relief over the strike’s conclusion, but he was quick to highlight the severe consequences it had on the movement of goods in and out of Karachi Port and Port Qasim. He noted that the strike effectively halted cargo operations, resulting in the prolonged stranding of export and import consignments. Emphasizing the unfairness of the situation, Alvi pointed out that while exporters and importers bore no responsibility for the delays experienced during the strike, they were still penalized with substantial demurrage and detention charges. This additional financial burden threatens to impede industrial activity further and exacerbate already challenging economic conditions for businesses.
In his statement, Alvi urged Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry to intervene promptly and direct port authorities and shipping lines to waive the accrued charges. He firmly stated that the responsibility for the delays lies squarely with the transporters who initiated the strike. As such, the burden of these charges should not be placed on businesses that were merely victims of the upheaval.
Moreover, Alvi cautioned that imposing additional charges on businesses during this period of recovery could deter industrial growth and negatively impact economic stability. The SITE Association has called for recognition of the unique challenges faced by the industrial sector during this time and for a proactive government approach to support the revival of trade and commerce in the region.
President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Muhammad Ikram Rajput, has welcomed the end of the nationwide goods transporters’ strike, which had lasted 10 days, stating that traders and industrialists across the country have breathed a sigh of relief.
In summary, the impact of the goods transporters’ strike has rippled through the supply chain, placing immense pressure on businesses operating in Pakistan. The collective voice of organizations such as KCCI, SITE, and KATI underscores the urgency and importance of government intervention to alleviate the financial burdens imposed by accumulated demurrage and detention charges. The hope is that prompt and effective action will restore normalcy, strengthen confidence in trade, and support the resilience of the business community in these challenging times.
