Karachi, December 16, 2025 — Pakistan’s business and industrial community has called on the government for an immediate and decisive solution to the ongoing transporters’ strike, warning that prolonged disruption is inflicting massive losses on trade, industry and the national economy.
President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), Atif Ikram Sheikh, expressed deep concern over the nationwide wheel-jam strike, which has entered its tenth day and remains unresolved amid disputes with the Punjab government. He said the strike has severely affected freight forwarding operations at ports, leaving imported consignments stranded and making timely delivery of export orders virtually impossible.
Sheikh noted that the shortage of raw materials has forced many industrial units to either slow down production or suspend operations entirely. Traders and manufacturers are bearing heavy financial losses due to mounting demurrage and detention charges, while the supply chain of essential goods and finished products across the country has been badly disrupted, affecting both businesses and consumers.
He warned that delays in export shipments are damaging the credibility of Pakistani exporters in international markets, posing long-term risks to the country’s commercial reputation.
Echoing similar concerns, Senior Vice President FPCCI Saquib Fayyaz Magoon urged both the government and transporters to return to the negotiating table without further delay. He emphasized the need for immediate resolution of the transporters’ legitimate demands, financial relief for the business community—particularly exemption from demurrage and detention charges—and swift restoration of the national supply chain.
Meanwhile, Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said the nine-day-long strike has paralyzed industrial activity, especially in major hubs such as Korangi, Landhi and Bin Qasim. He estimated that the economy is suffering billions of rupees in daily losses as goods movement remains suspended.
Rajput warned that continued delays are pushing factories toward shutdowns, increasing unemployment risks and further weakening Pakistan’s export performance. He urged federal and provincial governments to intervene immediately and facilitate effective dialogue among all stakeholders to restore transport operations and keep the wheels of the economy moving.