KARACHI: Cargo supplies to and from Karachi remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day on Friday as goods transporters continued their strike against the heavy increase in penalties on traffic rules violations on highways and motorways.
Despite detailed negotiations of the transporters’ union with Sindh governor, who was negotiating on behalf of the federal government, there has been no breakthrough and the halt on supplies continues.
This has resulted in a massive loss of trade activity for various businesses in the textile and other industries. One of Pakistan’s leading exporters in Faisalabad revealed while talking to Naya Daur that export worth millions of dollars was stopped in transit as there were no entry passages into Karachi. The concerned party claimed that if products don’t reach customers and clients on time, the orders get canceled or payments are delayed. Similar sentiments were echoed by other businessmen in Karachi and areas of Punjab.
On the other hand, the spokesperson of United Goods Transporters Alliance said, “When we announced the strike, we were approached by Sindh governor, who informed us about the federal government’s intention to hear our grievances’. To date, no solid negotiations have taken place.
In a country trying to eradicate the current account deficit via improving exports and ensuring ease of business, it is crucial for the federal government to step in and resolve the crisis. The fee challan rates have gone up by more than 100 percent which, according to transport companies, leads to higher costs when the rates of the fines for traffic violations have also been raised to an unaffordable level.
Despite detailed negotiations of the transporters’ union with Sindh governor, who was negotiating on behalf of the federal government, there has been no breakthrough and the halt on supplies continues.
This has resulted in a massive loss of trade activity for various businesses in the textile and other industries. One of Pakistan’s leading exporters in Faisalabad revealed while talking to Naya Daur that export worth millions of dollars was stopped in transit as there were no entry passages into Karachi. The concerned party claimed that if products don’t reach customers and clients on time, the orders get canceled or payments are delayed. Similar sentiments were echoed by other businessmen in Karachi and areas of Punjab.
On the other hand, the spokesperson of United Goods Transporters Alliance said, “When we announced the strike, we were approached by Sindh governor, who informed us about the federal government’s intention to hear our grievances’. To date, no solid negotiations have taken place.
In a country trying to eradicate the current account deficit via improving exports and ensuring ease of business, it is crucial for the federal government to step in and resolve the crisis. The fee challan rates have gone up by more than 100 percent which, according to transport companies, leads to higher costs when the rates of the fines for traffic violations have also been raised to an unaffordable level.