The Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) expresses deep concern over the ongoing transportation disruptions that have severely impacted the nation’s economy and trade. Recently, a four-day strike by goods transporters in Karachi led to significant delays in shipments, with approximately 20,000 to 25,000 export containers unable to reach the port. The backlog from this strike is expected to take up to 25 days to clear, resulting in millions of dollars in losses due to delayed shipments and piling up of backlogged imported containers.
Compounding the issue, the National Highway at the Sindh-Punjab border has been blocked for the past ten days due to protests against the proposed construction of six canals from the Indus River. This blockade has resulted in the suspension of all vehicular movement between the two provinces, severely impacting the transportation of essential goods, including petrol and food items, as trucks and trailers remain stranded.
The textile industry, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s export economy, is bearing significant losses due to these disruptions. In Faisalabad, more than 1,000 containers linked to the textile industry are stuck due to road closures, resulting in a severe shortage of raw materials and disrupting production at factories.
Chairman of the PTC, Mr Fawad Anwar, stated, “The prolonged transportation disruptions are inflicting severe damage on Pakistan’s economy, causing disruption of supply chains, loss of perishable goods, deterioration of stranded vehicles, and rising costs for businesses. Exporters, industrialists, and transporters are facing mounting challenges, with the textile sector bearing significant losses due to delays in shipments and raw material shortages.”
The PTC urges the federal and provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab to take immediate action to resolve these issues and restore normalcy. Failure to do so risks a national economic disaster, particularly for the textile industry, which accounts for over 60% of Pakistan’s exports.
PTC reiterated its readiness to work closely with government authorities to support the restoration of order and ensure continuity in Pakistan’s export performance, especially at a time when global market competitiveness is already under pressure.
