KARACHI: Businessmen fear economic activity in the port city and the province will come to a standstill and local production will shut down due to a nine-day-old cargo transporters’ strike, which has disrupted the movement of goods across the province.

Representatives of multiple bu­­­siness bodies urged the Sindh government to intervene and address the situation stemming from the stri­­ke, which has a crippling impact on industrial production and supply chains.

In a letter to the Sindh chief minister, Overseas Investors Chambers of Commerce Industry (OICCI) Secretary General Abdul Aleem said the situation was a very serious concern for the industry and commerce in the country.

He said he had raised this matter on Dec 12 with the Punjab and Sindh chief secretaries, but it partially eased the situation in Punjab only. However, the situation in Sindh and Karachi port, inward and outward movement of goods, has remained unchanged, he added.

“Many of our members have reported that trucks from Punjab are still unable to enter Karachi and port operations have also been severely constrained, and several major manufacturing facilities are now at imminent risk of shutdown,” he informed the Sindh CM.

Sindh CM urged to intervene to address issue as cargo unions announce nationwide boycott on 19th

“One OICCI member reported production lines shutdown this morning, with some others anticipating closures between tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday,” he said, adding that “OICCI members further report that essential raw materials and finished goods are stranded across highways”.

According to Pakistan Vanas­pati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) Chairman Sheikh Umer Rehan, the supply of edible oil, ghee and essential daily-use commodities has been affected, while the transportation of industrial raw materials has come to a halt.

Mr Rehan warned the suspension of raw material supplies could paralyse the production process, leading to severe repercussions for the economy. He said the delivery of imported goods had come to a complete standstill, resulting in consignments being stuck at ports and exposing businesses to substantial financial losses in the form of demurrage and detention charges.

Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers General Secre­tary Wajid Bukhari said the goods transporters’ strike had a crippling impact on industrial production and supply chains. Prolonged disruption could result in layoffs, wage losses for workers, and long-term damage to Pakistan’s industrial credibility, he feared.

He urged the federal and provincial governments to engage in talks with the transporters, review the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025, and ado­pt a balanced approach that ens­ured road safety without paralysing the industry and production.

The current wave of protests by transporters began in response to the enforcement of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025 on Dec 8, under which traffic auth­orities imposed increased fines, strict penalties, vehicle impoundment, and FIRs against drivers and transport operators. Trans­po­­rt unions argue that the ordinance has been implemented without adequate consultation and has made routine transport operations financially unviable.

While negotiations temporarily eased tensions in some areas of Punjab on Dec 13, major transport bodies, including the All Pakistan Transport Federation and allied goods transport associations, have now announced a nationwide wheel-jam strike on Dec 19 after expressing dissatisfaction with government assurances.

Transport leaders have warned that unless controversial clauses of the ordinance are withdrawn or substantially revised, goods and passenger transport across the country will remain suspended.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2025