FPCCI is Deeply Concerned Over Goods Transportation Crisis Atif Ikram Sheikh, President FPCCI

Karachi: Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), has expressed profound concern regarding the
escalating crisis stemming from the nationwide, ten-day-long transporters’ wheel-jam
strike due to absence of an amicable resolution to the grievances.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh emphasized that this prolonged strike is inflicting severe damage
on the national economy, with the process of freight forwarding at ports coming to a
near standstill. As a direct result, imported goods are currently stranded at the ports,
and the timely delivery of crucial export orders has become practically impossible. This
disruption has triggered a critical shortage of raw materials, forcing industrial units to
either drastically slow down their operations or halt production entirely.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh highlighted that traders and industrialists are bearing the brunt of
this crisis, suffering exorbitant financial losses in the form of mounting demurrage and
detention charges on stranded containers. Furthermore, the inability to meet export
deadlines is severely damaging the credibility of Pakistani exporters and tarnishing the
country's commercial reputation on the international stage. The current situation is
rapidly developing into a major economic impediment that is adversely affecting
importers, exporters, traders, and everyday consumers alike.

Mr. Atif Ikram Sheikh demanded that the government carefully consider the legitimate
grievances of the transporters and implement concrete, effective measures to end the
strike without further delay. To mitigate the extensive financial damage already inflicted
on the business community, the FPCCI calls for immediate financial relief, specifically
urging the government, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, port authorities, and terminal
operators to grant a complete exemption of demurrage and detention charges. Ensuring
the swift restoration of the supply chain is paramount so that economic activities can
resume normalcy and the nation can avoid further catastrophic losses, he added.

Brig Iftikhar Opel, SI (M), Retd.

Secretary General