By Ahsan Mughal
KARACHI: Industrial and export sectors came under renewed strain on Monday as the president of the Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry warned that an ongoing strike by heavy-goods transporters had pushed national supply chains to the brink of paralysis, threatening shipments, production schedules and the country’s standing with overseas buyers.
In a statement, FBATI president Sheikh Muhammad Tahseen said the suspension of cargo movement had severely disrupted the flow of both raw materials and finished goods, with manufacturers and exporters unable to move consignments to Karachi Port within agreed timelines. He said the delays were already translating into missed shipping schedules, exposing businesses to financial penalties and raising concerns among international clients about Pakistan’s reliability as a trading partner.
Tahseen said industrial units in Federal B Area, one of Karachi’s largest manufacturing hubs, as well as other key industrial zones, were bearing the brunt of the disruption. Export containers remained stuck at warehouses and factory gates, while imported raw materials were stranded on highways and at logistics points, leaving factory owners with little choice but to slow down production or temporarily shut operations altogether.
The FBATI president said the situation was particularly damaging for time-sensitive export industries, including textiles and engineering goods, where delays could render consignments commercially unviable. He added that smaller manufacturers, already operating on thin margins, were the most vulnerable and least able to absorb the financial shock.
Calling for urgent action, Tahseen urged the government to step in immediately to prevent further damage. He appealed to the traffic police and the transport department to engage constructively with the protesting transporters and address their grievances through dialogue.
