FAISALABAD: Senior Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PHMA) North Zone, Ahmad Afzal Awan has expressed serious concern over the ongoing nationwide strike by goods transporters and urged the federal and provincial governments to take immediate steps to resolve the issue in the larger interest of the economy and the country’s export sector.
He said the prolonged suspension of goods transportation was causing serious difficulties for exporters, manufacturers and the entire industrial supply chain. The textile and hosiery sector, he added, was particularly vulnerable as uninterrupted transportation was essential for the movement of raw materials, containers, finished goods and export consignments.
Awan warned that any further prolongation of the strike could lead to delays in export shipments, disruption of production schedules, additional demurrage and detention charges, higher logistics costs and, potentially, the loss of valuable international buyers. “Pakistan’s exporters are already operating under extremely challenging conditions and cannot afford another disruption that may adversely affect our hard-earned export markets and foreign exchange earnings,” he said.
The PHMA Senior Vice Chairman urged the federal and provincial governments, as well as representatives of the transport sector, to immediately resume meaningful negotiations and reach an amicable settlement of the legitimate demands of the transporters. He also appealed to the authorities to ensure the uninterrupted movement of export containers, industrial raw materials and other essential goods while negotiations were in progress, so that export-oriented industries could continue their operations without further disruption.
Awan said the textile and hosiery sector was among the major contributors to Pakistan’s exports and provided employment to a large number of people. “Protection of the industrial supply chain is therefore essential for maintaining production, exports, employment and the country’s foreign exchange earnings,” he added.
He expressed hope that the authorities and transporters would demonstrate flexibility and resolve the matter at the earliest to prevent further economic losses and restore normal movement of goods across the country.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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