By: Mian Abuzar Shad,
President,
Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Strikes and road blockades across Sindh have emerged as a major threat to Pakistan’s fragile economy, triggering unprecedented economic disruption. The recent wave of protests, sit-ins and road closures—whether politically motivated or reactionary—has resulted in losses exceeding Rs. 500 billion, shaking the foundations of the transport, trade, industrial and agricultural sectors.
The sheer scale and duration of these disruptions have sent shockwaves through the economy, paralyzing supply chains and choking the movement of goods and people across one of the country’s most commercially vital provinces.
Major highways such as the National Highway (N-5) and Super Highway (M-9) were blocked for days during protests and strikes, rendering Pakistan’s primary north-south trade corridor ineffective. With over 70,000 cargo vehicles halted, daily commerce came to a grinding halt.
Thousands of containers meant for exports remained stranded, while imports—critical for industry and retail—were delayed or missed entirely. According to early estimates, these blockades caused over Rs. 200 billion in damages to the transportation sector alone, including fuel wastage, loss of time, spoilage of perishable goods and increased operational costs.
Industries in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur—especially in industrial zones like SITE and Korangi—have been forced to reduce or suspend production due to the non-arrival of raw materials and delays in shipping out finished goods.
Textile exporters, auto part manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies all report substantial losses. Missed shipment deadlines have led to order cancellations, denting Pakistan’s export credibility in global markets.
“Strikes and road blockades destroy confidence in our logistics reliability. Buyers don’t tolerate uncertainty,” said Salman Asad, a major textile exporter in Karachi.
The goods transport sector, often the first victim of such shutdowns, has warned of financial ruin if such disruptions continue unchecked. From long-haul truckers to urban freight services, the inability to operate means a complete loss of revenue for thousands of small operators.
“Each day of blockade is a nail in the coffin for small transporters,” lamented Haji Ghulam Fareed of the All Pakistan Goods Transport Association. “Our vehicles are stuck, our goods are spoiling and our drivers are suffering.”
Farmers in Sindh and southern Punjab have been unable to deliver produce to markets, resulting in billions in agricultural losses. Perishable items—fruits, vegetables, dairy—have gone to waste and shortages have led to sharp price hikes in urban areas, burdening ordinary citizens.
In many cases, milk suppliers dumped thousands of liters due to their inability to access urban retail chains.
The blockade of key access roads to Karachi Port and Port Qasim has affected both importers and exporters. Customs operations were slowed and massive container pileups occurred. Businesses now fear heavy demurrage and detention charges due to delays.
Shipping companies, too, are expressing concern over Pakistan’s route reliability, which may lead to higher freight costs or re-routing of cargo through alternate ports in the region.
I n a major development, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has taken serious notice of the ongoing crisis, acknowledging its dire impact on national economic stability.
“We sincerely thank COAS General Asim Munir for stepping in at a time when decisive leadership was needed most. His support gives hope that normalcy will soon be restored,” said a joint statement issued by various chambers of commerce.
As the country battles inflation, currency volatility and investor skepticism, strikes and road blockades represent economic self-sabotage. These disruptions, whether politically driven or unplanned, undermine national productivity, erode business confidence and threaten livelihoods.
The business community has strongly urged the federal and provincial governments to establish a non-political, coordinated response mechanism to prevent future disruptions, ensure road access and uphold economic continuity at all costs.
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