Pakistan’s textile industry has urged the government to urgently resolve an indefinite goods transport strike, warning that the disruption is threatening export shipments and the supply of cotton to mills already holding low stocks at the end of the season.
The All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad began the strike on Aug. 8, according to a letter sent to Federal Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan by representatives of the textile industry.
The industry said the strike was disrupting the movement of export containers, imported cotton from ports and locally produced cotton from markets to textile mills.
“Cotton stocks with mills are low at the end of the season,” the industry said, warning that a prolonged disruption in the movement of imported and locally produced cotton could interrupt mill operations and production.
Pakistan’s textile sector is a major source of export earnings and foreign exchange, making uninterrupted transportation critical to maintaining production and meeting overseas orders, the industry said.
The industry warned that similar transport disruptions in the past had delayed export shipments, caused financial losses and interrupted mill operations.
It urged the Ministry of Communications to facilitate an early resolution of the dispute and prioritize the movement of export cargo, imported raw materials and locally produced cotton.
The appeal comes as textile manufacturers face pressure to maintain production and meet export commitments while operating with limited cotton inventories at the end of the season.
The industry said continued disruption to goods transportation could further affect manufacturing activity and export shipments if raw material supplies are not restored.
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