Industrialists, importers and exporters have urged the government to intervene and take notice of the goods transporters strike as it was hurting smooth operation of units due fast exhausting raw materials stock and non transportation of raw material from ports to the units.
They said that the port has started imposing demurrage on imported cargo and pointed out that around 1100 containers arrive and clear daily from ports. All these containers, arrived and arriving, stuck up at port. They also expressed concern over piling up of demurrage and detention charges at ports due to transports strike since November 8.
They said transporters' genuine grievances need immediate response by the government to end their strike and ensure smooth transportation for port activities and supply to upcountry and down-country destinations. Shortage of necessary items besides heavy demurrage to be borne by the business community would further worsen the situation. The continuation of strike may push the inflation to the higher side resulting in more economic problems for the common man as well.
Industrialists said that they have raw material in stores to continue production for next few days and added that if the strike prolongs they may face difficulties. Meanwhile a delegation of transporters, headed by Secretary General of United Goods Transports Alliance, Muhammad Shoaib Khan, visited Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) to discuss transporters issue and get support of KCCI. However, on the request of KCCI transports agreed to curtail their demands from 17 to five.
Chairman, Site association of Industry (SAI), Younus M Bashir said that the KCCI was making all possible efforts to convince goods transporters to end the strike. He express fear the country may suffer huge losses if the transporters did not agree to end the strike by today(Wednesday) as to coming four holidays will have drastic impact on the national economy
Chairman Federal B Area Association of Trade and Industry (FBAATI), Shaikh Mohammad Tehseen, expressed worry over threat of transporters to continue strike after 10th Muharram if government failed to meet their five demands. He claimed that transporters strike not only hits industrial production but also hitting fulfilling export commitments and shipment of goods in time.
He said in federal B area around 90 percent of industrial units are export- oriented and finished goods also lying at factories since November 8 for transportation to port for exports. He said strike is creating serious hardship for exporters and importers, besides inflicting huge losses to national exchequer.
Nasir Mehmood demands of the government to resolve issues of transporters strike at Ports which is causing more problems for business community especially for exporters and importers. The business activities have already been affected due to frequent increase in fuel prices and essential food items and unstable law & order situation.
The country is facing worst economic crisis and this sort of act would create more difficulties for the government. Meanwhile KCCI press release said "The ongoing strike of goods transporters will continue even after 9th arid 10th Muharram until five of our most pressing demands are approved by the government.
In this regard, we have approached the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for assistance so that these demands could be raised and approved at the federal level1', said Muhammad Shoaib Khan, Secretary General of United Goods Transporters Alliance. Speaking at an emergency meeting with President KCCI, A. Abdullah Zaki, during his visit to KCCI on Tuesday, Secretary General of United (Goods Transporters Alliance, Muhammad Shoaib Khan said that on KCCI's request, they have withdrawn 12 out of 17 demands to end the strike. "We will immediately call off strike as soon as these five demands are fulfilled", he added.
Senior Vice President KCCI, Muffasar A. Malik, Vice President KCCI, Muhammad Idrees and other Managing Committee members also attended the meeting. Highlighting the five demands of United Goods Transporters Alliance, Shoaib Khan said that their first demand was that trucks of various transporters, which were set ablaze in the aftermaths of Benazir Bhutto's assassination on December 27, 2007, be immediately compensated. Secondly, the illegal allotment of land to some builder which was allocated to Transporters Goods Association KPT be cancelled; action be taken against misconduct of National Highway Authority officials and heavy penalties being imposed by motorway police on ear carriers; 500 acres of land at northern bypass for truck stand be allotted and heavy traffic be allowed at Mai Kolachi Road.
Speaking on the occasion, President KCCI appreciated United Goods Transporters Alliance for accepting KCCI's request to consider reducing their demands He said that the Chamber will approach high authorities in Islamabad to ensure that all reasonable demands of the chamber are fulfilled.
He also appreciated Chairman FBR Tariq Bajwa for resolving the tax issue and announcing uniform tariff for containers and oil tankers. President KCCI further mentioned that it was due to the untiring efforts of KCCI office bearers who approached federal Board Revenue (FBR) to resolve the problems of goods transporters. Consequently, the FBR agreed to apply uniform tariff rate which will provide some relief to goods transporters. He further urged the government to issue directives to port authorities to waive off huge amount of demurrage and detention charges keeping in view the ongoing strike by goods transporters since November 8, 2013.