Following the announcement of independence (Azadi) and revolution (Inqelab) marches by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT), respectively, cargo movement to Punjab and KP has been halted, raising chances of scarcity of food and industrial raw material in coming days.
Traders and industrialists have expressed disenchantment over the present political turmoil, saying that they were unable to move consignments to Punjab and KP for last couple of days as goods carriers were reluctant to transport goods to the said provinces. They said that around 70 percent of the total imports were utilised in these two provinces, being affected by uncertain political situation in the country.
They said if consignments were not released from ports, heavy demurrage would be charged but if it was done, no transporter was available to move consignments to both provinces. "Therefore, we have no option but to clear consignments from ports and then store them in rented warehouses at Karachi till the situation returns to normalcy," they said. When contacted, Khalid Khan, Chairman, Karachi Goods Carriers Association (KGCA) said around 90 percent goods transportation to Punjab and KP had been stopped.
He said the Punjab government had forcibly taken 5,000 to 8,000 loaded carriers into custody to seal Lahore and Islamabad, following the marches announced by PTI and PAT. There are reports that goods are being stolen by unscrupulous elements from the detained containers, hence KGCA has sent letters to the prime minister, interior secretary, CM Punjab and others. No response has been witnessed from the authorities so far, he lamented.
Replying to a question, Khalid said transporters, who were presently facing financial crisis, were being compelled to pay excessive containers' rent - $21 per container daily due to illegal detentions of loaded goods carriers. He said the accumulated losses on account of container rent had so far reached to Rs 105 million, due to illegal detentions of 5,000 to 8,000 loaded good carriers for last eight days. He threatened the government of observing a wheel-jam strike after August 14, 2014, if no compensation was granted against containers' detentions.
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