In Pakistan, transporters' strike causes loss of billions of rupees

Exporters welcome end of transporters' strike


Imran Rana January 15, 2020
Representational image. PHOTO: REUTERS

FAISALABAD: Textile exporters have welcomed the end of goods transporters' strike as it was negatively impacting the export-oriented industry by causing delay in supplies across the country and export consignments while also causing losses of billions of rupees to the economy.

In a statement on Monday, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Chairman Sohail Pasha appreciated efforts of the government to persuade goods transporters to call off the strike in order to save the economy from further potential losses.

"The strike was having a negative impact on exports and the economy," Pasha said. "The industry has faced shortage of raw material for the past seven days due to the strike."

He added that the industry was forced to withhold supplies of goods meant for export to Europe and other regions because of the shortage of trucks for transporting the merchandise to ports.

He expressed concern that economic activities had come to a grinding halt due to the strike while a number of industrial units were heading towards partial closure due to non-availability of raw material.

Appreciating the government for taking the matter seriously and resolving it swiftly, he said unavailability of industrial goods was hampering economic activities and the exporters were unable to fulfill the commitments made with foreign buyers.

He added that during the past week, hundreds of containers were stuck at the ports awaiting clearance and transportation while on the other hand foreign buyers started cancelling the orders.

Pasha praised Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, Federal Minister for Communications Murad Saeed and Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Syed Ali Zaidi for considering the genuine demands of goods' transporters in the greater interest of the country and for the revival of economic activities.

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