ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) has sought the intervention of the Prime Minister and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to resolve the ongoing transporters’ strike and ensure uninterrupted movement of goods, aiming to restore confidence among exporters and international customers.
In separate letters addressed to the Prime Minister and National Coordinator SIFC Lt Gen Sarfraz Ahmed, PTC Chairman Fawad Anwar said that, on behalf of the Council representing Pakistan’s leading textile and apparel exporters, he was seeking their urgent personal intervention regarding the Goods Transport Association strike.
The strike has now entered its 11th consecutive day and remains unresolved despite earlier representations to the Government of Punjab.
The continued blockade of trucks by union members has crippled cargo movement, port operations, and industrial supply chains. PTC members report that value-added exporters are facing critical shortages of imported raw materials and essential inputs, with several production units already operating at minimal capacity and some plants on the verge of shutdown.
“The situation has now escalated into a direct commercial and reputational crisis. International buyers are growing increasingly nervous, with exporters being pressed for price discounts, delayed deliveries, or costly air shipments at their own expense. This not only erodes already thin margins but also risks the long-term loss of buyers and a shift of sourcing away from Pakistan,” Anwar added.
He further noted that even if the strike is resolved immediately, exporters estimate it would take at least a week or more to clear accumulated backlogs due to limited port handling capacity, congestion, and disrupted inland logistics.
Each passing day is compounding demurrage and detention costs, missed shipping windows, and contractual penalties.
“We seek your directions to the Government of Punjab to resolve this matter on an emergency footing, ensure uninterrupted movement of goods, and restore confidence among exporters and international customers.
The consequences of further delay will be catastrophic for Pakistan’s export earnings, industrial employment, and credibility as a reliable global supplier,” he concluded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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