Islamabad, Apr 29, 2025: Textile exporters are sounding alarms over prolonged transportation breakdowns at the Sindh-Punjab border, where protests against new canal constructions have brought the movement of nearly 30,000 shipping containers to a standstill, causing major setbacks and financial damage.
Reports indicate that for the last ten days, the National Highway has been completely blocked by demonstrators opposing the fresh canal initiatives on the Indus River.
Thousands of cargo trucks remain immobilized, severely affecting the delivery of vital goods, such as fuel and essential food items.
Industry leaders caution that even after the roadblock ends, it may take around 25 days to clear the accumulated cargo jam.
Muhammad Shafqaat, Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan Textile Council (PTC), mentioned that a four-day strike by freight operators in Karachi had already delayed around 20,000 to 25,000 containers destined for export.
He further revealed that over 1,000 containers carrying textile materials are stuck in Faisalabad, creating raw material shortages and halting factory operations.
In a combined statement, Khurram Mukhtar, Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA), and Chairman Sohail Pasha stated that textile goods worth between $400 million and $500 million have been trapped for 11 days due to this crisis.
They stressed that Pakistan’s reputation in global markets is at serious risk, as delayed or canceled export orders could place immense financial burdens on companies.
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PTC Chairman Fawad Anwar appealed to both Sindh and Punjab’s federal and provincial governments to urgently resolve the transportation blockade.
He pointed out the losses being incurred from perishable products rotting, vehicle conditions worsening, and businesses facing rising operational expenses.
Khurram Mukhtar also warned that the national economy could suffer losses estimated at $800 to $900 million if the deadlock continues.
Simultaneously, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce raised concerns on Monday regarding delays in the finalization of the Export Facilitation Scheme.
Members observed that despite the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) issuing a draft notification (SRO) on April 12, the final version is yet to be released.
This delay is causing additional demurrage charges for containers stuck at ports.
Moreover, the committee approved “The Anti-Dumping Duties (Amendment) Bill, 2025,” which seeks to grant retrospective benefits starting July 1, 2020, for imports linked to foreign-funded aid projects.
