KARACHI, Feb 2: Trade and industry has expressed concern over the ongoing strike by goods transporters at various yards of Karachi Port and Port Qasim.
Business and industry leaders in their communiqué to the federal and provincial governments and all departments maintained that frequent closures of industrial activity on different accounts was badly hurting exports.
Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA) Shaikh Muhammad Shafiq said that the country had suffered huge losses running into billions of rupees due to transporters’ strike just a few weeks ago and now the same situation was being repeated all over again. He said that goods carriers have boycotted the lifting of in and outbound cargo from KICT, PICT and TPX. He urged the relevant authorities to take this matter seriously.
Senior vice chairman Site Association of Industry Naseem Anwar said that Goods Transporters Association has announced boycott against extortionist mafia that was collecting ‘bhatta’ at terminals and TPX godowns.
“The matter could be resolved amicably provided the concerned authorities take interest and sort it out at the earliest. Due to strike, export trade has suffered a loss of $600 million due to delay in shipments of cargo. In the prevailing situation where exporters are already facing several problems such issues are causing additional cost to exporters,” he added.
Naseem said that already industrial activity during 2012 suffered badly when it had to faced over 100 days closures on different accounts including strikes, law and order situation and extra public holidays given by provincial government.
He further said that the transporters’ association has already recorded their protest and informed all facts and issues to the competent authorities but the matter is still pending.
The leaders have also sent a request to KPT and Port Qasim chairmen and chief executive Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Abid Javed Akbar to intervene into the matter and resolve the issue.