Karachi, April 19, 2025 – A nationwide strike by goods transporters has severely disrupted Pakistan’s export sector, bringing the movement of key commodities—especially rice—to a grinding halt. The five-day strike has caused an estimated $20 million loss in rice exports alone, sparking alarm among exporters and industry leaders.
The strike, led by disgruntled transporters over unresolved demands, brought logistics and supply chains to a standstill. Critical export goods including potatoes, onions, fruit pulp, juices, and particularly rice, were unable to reach ports on time. The rice industry, which contributes significantly to Pakistan’s foreign exchange earnings, has been hit the hardest by the crisis.
Rice exporters are now grappling with canceled international orders and reputational damage, as bulk rice consignments remain immobile in warehouses and at port terminals. With Pakistan exporting an average of $4 million worth of rice daily—equivalent to approximately Rs 1.12 billion—the cumulative damage over five days has ballooned to nearly Rs 6 billion in lost rice shipments.
Rafiq Suleman, former Chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and Convener of the FPCCI Standing Committee on Rice, expressed deep concern over the failure of authorities to intervene in time. He stated that transporters’ strike could have been averted with proactive government engagement. “We have rice ready to ship, but it’s stuck. Every hour of delay is a blow to our economy and trade reputation,” he said.
Suleman criticized the inaction of federal, provincial, and municipal governments, holding them responsible for allowing the situation to escalate. He urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan to take immediate and effective measures. He also called for financial compensation to help rice exporters recover from the strike-induced setbacks.
This incident has exposed the fragility of Pakistan’s export logistics infrastructure. Exporters stress the urgent need for dialogue with transporters and long-term reforms to prevent such crises. If unresolved, similar disruptions could continue to damage Pakistan’s rice exports and broader trade performance, dealing further blows to an already strained economy.