KARACHI, Aug 21: Businessmen and exporters have called for relaxation in curbs on movement of heavy traffic in Karachi during day time.

They have requested the Supreme Court (SC) to consider exporters’ plight while trying to find a solution to the city’s traffic problems. They, however, shared SC concern over traffic jams and hardships.

Besides, builders are also facing problems in getting timely delivery of construction material during daytime.

The Supreme Court on Aug 17 directed the traffic police and the city government to immediately stop entry of heavy vehicles in the city during daytime.

Heavy vehicles should be allowed to enter Karachi only between 11pm and 6am, said an interim order passed by an SC bench, comprising Justices Rana Bhagwandas and Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, in exercise of the court’s suo motu powers. Apparently, there would be no restriction on intra-city heavy traffic movement and exit during the daytime.

Chairman, F.B. Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBATI), Masroor Ahmed Alvi, said: “One container of export shipment is now taking at least two days to reach the ports.”

“The present relaxation time (11pm to 6am) does not suit exporters in view of security concerns and theft at nights.”

Alvi further said: “Ninety per cent loading for export and upcountry consignments is being made in the industrial area.”

Chairman, North Karachi Association of Trade and Industry (NKATI), Faraz Mirza, termed the SC decision a good omen, aimed at containing traffic mess on the city roads, but said “the timing of heavy traffic movement seems unsuitable for export-related industries.”

He said: “Export consignments are being delayed as containers carrying vehicles cannot enter the industrial area in day time.”

Faraz said: “In case a 40 feet container leaves Port Qasim at 11pm and reaches the North Karachi industrial area at 1am, it will not prove viable because loading of export consignments in the container takes at least four to five hours.”

“As a result, export consignments will have to wait for night movement as it cannot move out after 6am.”

He said: “Exporters usually have to send a ready container at ports just one day before the due date of container ships’ foreign journey.”

He requested the SC to either fix the timing of relaxation from 8 to 6pm or provide some relief, especially to export-related goods movement.

Chairman, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI), Masood Naqi said: “Export shipments are facing delay of two to three days and transporters are demanding double charges.”

He said: “The 24-hour work of industrial units, involved in export business, cannot be completed in just seven hours due to lack of logistic facilities, infrastructure and facilities at the ports.”

Chairman, SITE Association of Industry Imran Shaukat, said: “Industries are facing problems in getting timely arrival of raw material from the upcountry, besides they are failing to meet export shipments on their schedule.”

He said he supports the SC move in resolving the traffic jams in the city, but some other routes be found out at the outskirts of the city so that the upcountry consignments to the industrial areas and export consignments to ports could reach easily without causing any traffic muddle.

Chairman, Association of Builders and Developers (Abad), Hafizur Rahman Butt, said “various on-going projects may get delayed as builders are not getting construction material in the day time.”

“There will be no problem, if builders get the construction material, arriving from the upcountry after 11pm, but the projects relying on movement of construction material within the city may face problems.

“Even the labour force will be hit, if construction of various projects gets slow due to non-availability of building material.”

He requested the SC to ask the traffic department to improve vehicle management in an effective way “as ban on heavy vehicles’ movement is not a solution.”

The SC decision came in view of citizens’ plight who endure worst traffic jams on city roads owing to mess on roads, and many people reach their workplaces late. They also get delayed to their homes in the evening.