Traders alarmed as transporters' strike continues in Pakistan

Pakistan’s business leaders have expressed concerns over the ongoing countrywide strike by truckers, warning that the transportation of goods has ceased completely and the situation could lead to an unprecedented trade and industrial crisis.

The transporters have been on strike since Monday over the new rules announced by the provincial governments of Punjab and Sindh, which would ban aged cargo trucks and trailers from operating in their provinces.

In a statement, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) President Rehan Hanif said import and export consignments are stranded across ports, highways, and industrial zones, leading to huge losses for traders.

The KCCI president stated the movement of raw materials to factories and the dispatch of finished goods to domestic and international markets have stopped completely.

He cautioned that this disruption, if prolonged further, can cause irreversible damage to Pakistan’s supply chains, severely undermine export commitments, and weaken the country’s credibility in global markets.

Hanif noted that exporters are already facing cancellations, demurrage, detention charges, and production losses, while industries dependent on continuous inbound supplies, particularly textiles, food, pharmaceuticals, and essential commodities, are beginning to shut operations.

“Pakistan’s economy is already under immense pressure due to high costs, weak demand, and liquidity constraints. At a time when every dollar matters, we simply cannot afford a total blockade of goods movement”, he said.

He appealed to the federal and provincial governments to immediately intervene, engage with transporter associations, and finalize a practical, mutually acceptable solution.

He stated that the strike has already placed Pakistan’s import and export system in a state of paralysis, causing severe congestion at ports and leaving thousands of containers stranded.

He warned that if the deadlock continues even for a short period, the cumulative financial losses will run into billions, while Pakistan’s exporters, who compete globally and operate on tight delivery schedules, will be the hardest hit.