LCCI President Faheem Ur Rehman Saigol said the strike had entered its sixth consecutive day and warned that a prolonged deadlock between the government and transporters could have serious consequences for businesses and consumers.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Saigol, along with LCCI Senior Vice President Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh and Vice President Khurram Lodhi, called on the government to adopt a pragmatic and conciliatory approach and address the transport community’s genuine concerns while ensuring the uninterrupted movement of essential goods.
Saigol said the impact of the strike was no longer limited to the transport sector. Pakistan’s textile industry, one of the country’s major export-oriented sectors, has already reported significant disruption, with export containers worth an estimated $500 million reportedly stranded at factories.
He warned that exporters could face missed shipment deadlines, additional demurrage and detention charges, as well as potential claims from international buyers.
“The situation is particularly alarming because the textile sector is currently passing through a crucial shipping period. Pakistan cannot afford to lose export orders or damage its credibility with international buyers because of disruptions in domestic logistics,” he said.
The LCCI president said prolonged disruption to transportation could also affect the availability and prices of food items, industrial raw materials, petroleum products and other essential commodities, potentially adding to inflationary pressures.
Recent reports have also highlighted disruptions to imports, exports and essential food supplies across the country.
Saigol urged both the government and transporters to show flexibility and prevent the dispute from turning into a prolonged confrontation. He said the transport community was an important partner in economic development and its legitimate concerns should be addressed, but the uninterrupted movement of goods was equally essential for businesses.
He proposed establishing a permanent consultative mechanism involving transporters, chambers of commerce, exporters, manufacturers and relevant government departments. Such a mechanism, he said, could help resolve sector-specific issues before they escalate into nationwide strikes.
The LCCI president also called for a special arrangement to ensure the movement of export cargo, essential commodities and critical industrial inputs during any future disruption, helping minimise economic losses and protect international shipments.
Saigol said Pakistan needed policy and institutional stability to strengthen exports, attract investment and promote industrialisation. Repeated disruptions to logistics and supply chains, he warned, could send negative signals to international buyers and investors and weaken the competitiveness of Pakistani businesses.
He appealed to transporters to keep the channels of dialogue open and urged the government to accelerate negotiations at the highest level.
“Pakistan needs economic activity, not economic disruption,” Saigol said, stressing that all stakeholders needed to act responsibly and resolve the dispute through dialogue so that industrial, trade and export activity could resume without further delay.
