ISLAMABAD The country’s textile sector has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing nationwide transporters strike during the last nine days which has caused about $ 900 million loss to the exporters. In this regard Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) has stated that nine days into the nationwide transporters’ strike, and the damage to Pakistan’s economy is becoming irreversible. ” PTEA estimates losses of nearly $900 million to exports and allied trade, shipments missed, buyer confidence shaken, raw materials stranded, and factories running dry. Domestic commerce is equally paralyzed, with goods unable to move between provinces,” said Pattern -in- Chief PTEA Khurram Mukhtar. He said that this is no longer a transporters’ dispute, it is a national economic crisis. Every day of inaction adds to the bill this country will pay for years. The government and transporters must resolve this immediately. Someone must take ownership before it’s too late.
Pakistan Textile Council (PTC), has sought Prime Minister’s urgent personal intervention to resolve the ongoing nationwide goods transporters’ strike, which commenced on August 8 2026 and is severely disrupting the movement of raw materials and export consignments across the country. The textile and apparel industry depends on uninterrupted logistics for the movement of imported and locally sourced raw materials to manufacturing units and the timely transportation of finished export consignments to ports. The ongoing suspension of goods transport is disrupting these critical supply chains. ” Export containers are unable to move normally, imported raw materials are being held up at ports, and locally procured cotton and other inputs are facing difficulties in reaching mills. We fully appreciate that the transporters’ demands involve issues requiring engagement between different levels and departments of government. However, the economic cost of allowing the present deadlock to continue will increase with every passing day. Prime Minister’s personal and immediate intervention is required to bring the government authorities concerned for immediate resolution of the issue,” said Chairman PTC Fawad Anwar, in his letter to the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile All Pakistan Textile Mills Association has expressed serious concern over the ongoing nationwide transporters’ strike, which has severely disrupted movement of export consignments, imported raw materials, and industrial inputs across the country. APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said the prolonged suspension of freight movement is directly affecting Pakistan’s textile and apparel sector, which depends on timely movement of cotton, yarn, fabric, dyes, chemicals, accessories, machinery parts, and export shipments. He said containers are stuck at ports and terminals, while exporters are facing delays in meeting shipment deadlines. The disruption is also creating shortages of raw materials and may force mills to curtail production if normal transport operations are not restored immediately. He warned that that delays in export shipments can damage Pakistan’s credibility with international buyers and lead to cancellation of orders, penalties, and loss of future business. He said the textile sector which is already facing high energy costs, liquidity pressure, and intense regional competition, and cannot absorb further disruption in the supply chain. Over the past year, similar disruptions in transport and logistics have affected export shipments and caused serious losses to industry. Such disruptions weaken Pakistan’s reliability as a supplier and make it harder for exporters to retain international buyers. He said textile exports account for over 60% of Pakistan’s total exports, yet they are stagnating at a time when export growth is most critical for the country. Any further disruption to the textile supply chain will directly affect foreign exchange earnings, industrial production, and employment. APTMA urged the Federal Government and all concerned authorities to immediately engage with transporters and resolve the issue through dialogue. It also requested the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, port authorities, shipping lines, and terminal operators to waive demurrage and detention charges incurred due to the strike. ” Swift restoration of the supply chain is essential to protect exports, industrial production, employment, and foreign exchange earnings,” he added.
The Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal has expressed deep concern over the ongoing transporters’ strike across the country, stressing that any disruption to Pakistan’s exports directly affects the national economy and the country’s wider economic interests. He noted that several exporters are at risk of losing orders due to delays in the transportation of goods, including one order worth nearly US$1 million. He underscored that protecting Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable trading partner in international markets is a shared national responsibility. Ahsan Iqbal urged transporters’ unions to immediately end the strike and return to the negotiating table. He reaffirmed that the government is ready to engage in meaningful dialogue and work towards a peaceful and workable resolution of their concerns. Citing Bangladesh as an example, the Federal Minister noted that export logistics were kept operational despite political protests, emphasizing that uninterrupted exports are essential for economic stability and international trade confidence. “Just as we endured great hardships to achieve our nuclear capability, today our greatest national mission is to protect and promote Pakistan’s exports.” Ahsan Iqbal stressed that the movement of export goods and the country’s logistics system must remain protected from disruption, so that Pakistan can further strengthen its position as a reliable, stable and competitive trading partner in global markets. Ends
