FPCCI Urges Transporters & Government to Amicably End the Strike Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has expressed deep concern over the crisis resulting
from the nationwide, ten-day-long transporters wheel-jam strike – and, the ensuing
dispute with the Punjab Government.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that the nationwide transporters' strike is having
serious negative consequences and the process of freight forwarding at ports has been
severely affected – resulting in imported goods being stuck at the ports and making the
timely delivery of export orders impossible.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh also pointed out the production halt due to the lack of timely
supply of raw materials and the production process in industrial units has either stopped
or slowed down. These issues are causing financial losses to the traders and industrialists
as they are suffering heavy losses in the form of demurrage and detention charges.

FPCCI Chief explained that damage to the credibility of Pakistani exporters due to
delayed delivery of export orders is causing severe repercussions to Pakistan's
commercial reputation at the international level.

Mr. Saquib Fayyaz Magoon, SVP FPCCI, has urged both the government and the
transporters to immediately come to the negotiating table and resolve the ongoing crisis.
He emphasized the following demands: (i) Immediate Resolution: the government should
consider the legitimate demands of the transporters and take concrete, effective measures
to end the strike (ii) Financial Relief: quick relief should be provided to the business
community to prevent further financial losses – especially, through the exemption of
demurrage and detention charges (iii) Supply Chain Restoration: swift restoration of the
supply chain must be ensured; so that, economic activities can return to normalcy as soon
as possible.

Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.

Secretary General