Traders' viewpoint: Transporters' strike badly affecting export sector

The countrywide strike of goods carriers and transport services have been entered in the second week, which is yielding negative impact over export sector, especially textile industry and halted the export activities putting millions of dollars export orders on stake and textile exporters are unable to meet international commitments; whereas failure to perform will lead to disputes, loss of customers & market share as well as damaging Pakistan's reputation as a reliable supplier.

Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association(PTEA) Sohail Pasha apprehended that huge foreign orders are feared to be cancelled due to ongoing goods transporters strike and this would result in huge loss for exporters and the economy as well. A large number of export shipments ready to be shipped as per the deadline given by the foreign buyers, are unable to reach the seaports in time, resulting in the vessel sailing away without the consignment, he added. If the strike prolongs further, this would lead to a great loss to the exporters, fearing cancellation of vital orders, he warned.

Under this situation, textile exporters are unable to meet international commitments and failure to perform will lead to loss of wide scale customers and market share. Entire textile chain is highly perturbed and economic activities have come to a halt in export sector, he said and added that the goods transport carriers strike has ceased business activities as the goods are not reaching the ports. If the situation would continue, our exports could fall horribly, he apprehended.

Transports strike not only hit industrial production but also affected fulfillment of export commitments and shipment of goods on time. We have raw material in stores to continue production for next few days and if the goods transporters strike prolongs, it will create severe difficulties, he added. National economy relies heavily on textile exports and a crisis like situation is posing serious threat to the viability of the industry.

Vice Chairman PTEA Yaris Yousaf was of the view that goods transport carriers strike is not only hurting shipments of export consignments but also disturbing import business as importers would be forced to pay demurrages for not clearing their consignments from the ports. Furthermore, the strike is also affecting manufacturing activities as industrial units are not receiving raw materials and fuel to run their mills, resulting in heavy financial loss.

Meanwhile, Choudhry Salamat Ali, Central Chairman, PHMA, Rizwan Ashfraf, former Chairman APTEPMA, Waheed Khaliq Ramey, Chairman, Council of Powerlooms Owners and Rice Exporters have urged the provincial and federal Governments to intervene immediately and resolve the issue of transporters without any delay. If the strike will not to be called off, the exporters will have to face huge financial losses for shipping their goods by air to fulfill their commitments or lose their hard earned export contracts.