November 16, 2006	Thursday	Shawwal 23, 1427

KARACHI, Nov 15: Strike call by goods transporters for an indefinite period has paralysed export trade as trucks and trailers are not available for the haulage of consignments from factories to the port.

This was stated by Chairman Towel Manufacturers Association (TMA) Muzzammil Husain in a statement issued on Wednesday. He urged upon the government to immediately look into the matter as no foreign buyer would wait for shipments for long in the current open market era.

He said that the Goods Transporters Association called the strike from November 14 for an indefinite period, thereby bringing the haulage of export goods from industrial areas to the port to a complete halt.

He pointed out that in the post-quota regime there was tough competition in the world market and only those exporters could survive who would ensure prompt delivery, competitive price and quality of goods because the foreign buyers now had many choices to ensure sustained and timely delivery of goods.

He further said that exports during the first three months of current fiscal had already registered a fall and such problem could further aggravate the situation and once markets are lost to the competitors it is next to impossible to recapture them.

He regretted that it seemed that the government did not take any notice of this serious matter. He appealed to the government to direct some authority to intervene so that the export trade could be saved from a major loss.