Korangi industrial area: ‘Rains disrupt around 30pc of production, export operations’

KARACHI: Junaid Naqi, President of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has warned that the recent spell of rains has once again crippled industrial activities in the Korangi industrial area, disrupting around 30 percent of production and export operations.

Junaid Naqi said that the overflowing Korangi River and the closure of the EBM Causeway had blocked entry and exit routes to the industrial zone, leaving the Jam Sadiq Bridge as the only access point.

However, he noted that during rains, hours-long traffic jams on the bridge had become routine, further paralyzing industrial movement.

“This is a recurring issue. Each time it rains, industrial activity suffers severely, causing delays in exports,” Naqi stated.

He added that more than half of the workers were unable to reach factories due to road closures, while safety concerns kept many away. As a result, nearly half of the factories remained closed, and overall production activity declined by 25 to 30 percent.

The disruption has also led to delays in export orders and shipment schedules, putting valuable foreign exchange earnings at risk. “Industries in Korangi are the backbone of Pakistan’s exports, but this situation not only reduces production but also threatens the country’s economic stability,” Naqi warned.

Highlighting longstanding infrastructure deficiencies, he said the pending projects of an alternate road and an overhead bridge on the Korangi Causeway and Main Korangi Road could have prevented such a crisis if completed on time.

He also stressed the urgent need for upgrading the Jam Sadiq Bridge to ensure smooth traffic flow.

Naqi welcomed Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s directive to immediately open access routes to the Korangi Industrial Zone but urged swift implementation. “Karachi’s industries are the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. If the government does not act promptly, just a few days of rainfall can paralyze the country’s largest commercial hub, with ripple effects across the national economy,” he emphasised.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2025