ISLAMABAD: The country’s business community has expressed grave concerns over the nationwide transporters’ strike, now in its fifth consecutive day, which has brought Pakistan’s export manufacturing sector to a standstill.
In a letter to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Chairman Pakistan Textile Council (PTC) Fawad Anwar highlighted the severe disruption caused by the ongoing strike. According to the PTC, since December 8, 2025, thousands of trucks and containers have remained stranded across Punjab and other provinces, halting the movement of raw materials, industrial inputs, and finished goods. The textile sector—Pakistan’s largest export contributor—has been particularly hit, with factories facing shortages of raw materials, rising demurrage and detention charges, missed shipping windows, and an increasing risk of export order cancellations.
He further stated that the strike has paralyzed the broader national supply chain, posing a serious threat to the continuity of economic activity. Food supply, industrial production, exports, and inflationary stability have all been impacted. The PTC attributed the crisis to recent regulatory changes under the Traffic Ordinance 2025, which have triggered widespread unrest among transporters.
Nationwide transporters’ strike halts supply chain
PTC members warned that prolonged disruption would shut down production lines, delay shipments, and damage Pakistan’s credibility as a reliable global supplier—ultimately undermining critical foreign exchange earnings.
“Given the gravity of the situation, we request that the Government of Punjab intervene at the highest level to facilitate immediate negotiations between the authorities and transporters associations, ensuring the swift restoration of uninterrupted goods movement within the province,” Anwar stated. He emphasized that stable, predictable, and efficient logistics are essential for maintaining industrial operations and safeguarding Pakistan’s export commitments. The Pakistan Textile Council, he said, stands ready to support all government efforts to protect the export sector’s contribution to the economy.
Meanwhile, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), Khurram Mukhtar, said in a statement that the nationwide transport shutdown has brought export manufacturing to a halt. The breakdown of inbound and outbound logistics has disrupted production cycles, delayed shipments, and crippled the entire supply chain of export-oriented industries.
“Thousands of export containers remain stranded across the country, resulting in massive demurrage charges, missed vessel sailings, production stoppages, and a rapidly increasing risk of international order cancellations,” he said. Madding “this situation is causing irreparable damage to Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable sourcing destination and poses a direct threat to our already fragile economic stability.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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