Karachi (May 16, 2017): Karachi Port Trust has run out of space due to strike of the goods transporters and this has also resulted in the stoppage of berthing of cargo ships at the Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT). The strike has also caused tens of millions of losses to importers and exporters.According to the details, goods transport strike that has hit hard to the businesses across the country has entered in its ninth day, hindering the transportation of goods and raw material for the factories.
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Goods’ carriers went on strike last Monday against a ban imposed by the Sindh High Court (SHC) on the movement of heavy vehicles in Karachi during the day. The strike was later intensified with joining of other transport bodies.
About 7,000 to 8,000 containers carrying raw material, imported food and other items travel daily from the Karachi port to Port Qasim, Landhi and Korangi industrial areas — a distance of about 35 kilometres.
Two container terminals of Karachi port i.e. Karachi International Container Terminal (KICT) and Pakistan International Container Terminal have been crowded with containers.
The export orders could not be shipped on time because export goods could not make it to the port for loading and this may pose difficulties for Pakistan at international level.
The stoppage of supplies has also cause concerns about the shortage of edibles while the importers are facing billions in losses due to stoppage of raw materials necessary for production. The exports of fruits and vegetables are also been effected by the strike.
For the last eight days, the import of cargo was being unloaded but no export cargo could be loaded as no containers reached the Karachi port.
The traders bodies have claimed suffering huge losses due to the transport strike. The strike inflicting daily loss of Rs six billion to the country, some traders associations claim.
In the commodity market wholesalers of imported grams and pulses sounded alarm over depleting stocks in Jodia Bazaar ahead of Ramazan as a sizable quantity these commodities is lying at the port due to the strike by goods transporters.
The traders fear serious shortage in case the imported goods remain stuck at the port.
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