A strike by Pakistan’s transporters has caused the fruit and vegetable export sector to suffer US$1.5 million estimated loss as reportedly 1,400 containers with edible items have failed to reach ports for purpose of shipment. This has led to sharp decline in conducive business environment in terms of rapid downfall based on commerce and trade activity. The government in its negotiations with the transporters had failed to convince them to call off their strike as the problem is expected to increase.
“Our economy cannot afford a goods transport strike,” said Waheed Ahmed, the head of the Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association. The delay in the completion of export orders is likely to result in the cancellation of deals and new orders will be handed over to Indian exporters,” he added.
An article on nation.com.pk states that the Karachi ports can handle about 9,830 containers daily, including 4,665 export containers and 5,162 import containers. He further said that in event of continued strikes, the country may inevitably suffer loss of $10 Billion worth exports and thus, striking huge blow to government's top most priority in terms of enhancing exports in order to bridge the trade gap on most urgent basis.
