- Transporters report thousands of trucks stranded; goods are spoiling daily
- Ports brace for a crisis; manufacturers face raw material shortages
- President steps in to address the situation
KARACHI – Efforts to disperse protesters blocking key national highways in parts of Sindh remained unsuccessful on Sunday, leaving manufacturers unable to continue production due to a lack of raw materials. Meanwhile, port authorities are bracing for significant congestion as the protests continue.
The ongoing roadblocks, which are part of protests against the controversial plan to build new canals on the River Indus, have caused a major disruption to cross-country traffic. Despite the federal government and the PPP-led Sindh government agreeing to postpone the project, nationalist parties, lawyers, and civil society groups remain unconvinced, vowing to continue protesting until the postponement is formally implemented.
According to Dawn’s correspondent in Sukkur, thousands of heavy vehicles are stuck in long lines on roads in the Kandhkot, Kashmore, Ghotki, Sukkur, and Khairpur districts. Manufacturers and transporters are frustrated by the lack of resolution, despite calls from the provincial government for protesters to clear the roads.
On Sunday, President Asif Ali Zardari met with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to discuss the issue and its repercussions. Sources suggest the chief minister expressed concerns about certain political parties exploiting the situation for their own gains, referring to the ongoing protests led mainly by nationalist groups.
The chief minister also informed the president about the steps the Sindh government is taking to address public concerns and restore order in the affected areas, sources revealed.
In response to the ongoing blockade, the All Pakistan Goods Transport Alliance has announced a rally outside the Sindh Chief Minister’s House at 4 PM today (Monday).
Transport at a Standstill
An official from the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) shared with Dawn that export cargo is not arriving at the port, while imported goods are piling up due to the road closures in Sindh. “We are managing the situation to avoid congestion, especially with the continuous arrival of imported goods. However, if the blockade persists, the port will face severe congestion,” the official said.
Transporters are deeply concerned about the situation, which is impacting both manufacturers and exporters. Nisar Jafry from the All Pakistan Goods Transporters Association stated that around 30,000 trucks and oil tankers are stuck. Each vehicle typically carries goods worth around Rs 10 million, whether for import, export, or local production. He estimated that around 90,000-100,000 drivers and helpers have been stranded on the highways for over 10 days, facing shortages of food and water.
Additionally, transporters claim that protesters have damaged numerous vehicles and that over 100 sacrificial animals in their cargo have died due to the delays. Jafry also mentioned receiving a call from Sindh Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, asking him to cancel Monday’s rally with the assurance that the roads would be cleared soon.
In a statement on Sunday, Minister Memon urged all political parties and the legal community to clear the roads to ensure the smooth movement of goods, so that no further financial or economic damage is incurred. He stressed that the disruptions are affecting the public, the livestock industry, the import-export sector, farmers, and the poor.
Representatives from the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), the Oil Companies Advisory Council (OCAC), and the Fertiliser Manufacturers of Pakistan Advisory Council have all warned that the continuing disruptions to the logistics supply chain are creating a major crisis. While around 800-1,000 oil trucks are also stranded, the OCAC representative has stated that there is no immediate risk of a fuel shortage.
