Goods transporters’ strike chokes trade as containers pile up at ports

Around 25,000 containers awaiting clearance at Karachi Port, Port Qasim

KARACHI:

The 10-day-long strike by goods transporters has brought import and export activities to a halt, leading to a buildup of imported containers at ports.

However, spokesmen for Karachi Port and Port Qasim have stated that port operations are continuing as normal and there has been no disruption to the arrival and departure of ships.

In contrast, All Pakistan Customs Agents Association Chairman Arshad Khurshid told The Express Tribune that approximately 25,000 imported containers, including edible oil, industrial raw materials and other consumer goods, are awaiting onward transportation to their respective destinations at the two ports.

He added that due to the goods transporters' strike, around 15,000 containers carrying export goods have failed to reach the ports.

Businessmen Group Chairman Zubair Motiwala said that the strike, now in its 10th day, has pushed the trade and industrial sectors into a distressing situation. He said that normally about 2,000 containers move in and out of the ports daily, but due to the transporters' strike, 12,000 to 14,000 containers have remained stuck at the ports over the past 10 days.

He added that while production activities in local export industries are continuing, the transportation of finished export goods to the ports has come to a standstill. This has created the risk that if consignments fail to reach overseas buyers within the stipulated time, Pakistani exporters may suffer financial losses.

Motiwala asked the government and goods transporters to show flexibility and play their part in saving the country from an economic crisis, adding that the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry has offered to facilitate dialogue between the relevant parties.