Containers pile up at Karachi port as trucks are seized to block Islamabad ahead of PTI's October 4 march
Containers pile up at Karachi port as trucks are seized to block Islamabad ahead of PTI’s October 4 march
Shipping containers are piling up at the Karachi port, 1,400 kilometres from the capital, as containers seized for PTI march roadblocks keep truckers off the road north. Drivers fear their vehicles will be confiscated and the boxes used to barricade Islamabad ahead of the party’s planned march on October 4.
The steel containers, packed with sand and welded together, have lined the roads into Islamabad for weeks as authorities prepare to keep supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan out of the city. The march, postponed from September 27, is being held to demand Khan’s release from prison.
“Right now, going toward Punjab is like committing suicide,” said Javid ur Rehman, 35, a driver who has halted journeys north. “The police seize the vehicles and snatch the containers, and then we are left distressed.”
Why containers seized for PTI march are costing transporters millions
Rana Mohammad Aslam, president of the Karachi Goods Carrier association, said authorities began stopping vehicles around September 5, weeks before the original date for the march. “This is not the way to stop protests,” he said.
Police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September ahead of the march, transporters said, many of them still loaded with cargo and held for days with little or no compensation. Daily demurrage charges on one seized container alone can run into Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 ($110 to $150), Aslam said, on top of losses from missed deliveries and idle trucks.
Transporters say they cannot afford to lose their trucks as prices climb. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday that consumer prices rose 10.26 per cent in September from a year earlier, while the transport price index climbed 27.43 per cent.
Operators are struggling to pay drivers and maintain their fleets, even as international shippers continue to demand payment regardless of the reason for the delay, Aslam said. He said he was holding talks to find a solution, but warned that transporters could stage their own protest if their complaints went unanswered.
Routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar disrupted
The reluctance of truckers to head north is leaving containers stacked at Pakistan’s main trade gateway. The disruption was affecting routes to Islamabad, the military city of Rawalpindi, and the cities of Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock, Aslam said. Some operators had halted journeys beyond Gujranwala in Punjab, while others took alternative routes.
Pervaiz Khan, 50, a father of five, kept his chemical load parked in Karachi rather than risk the journey. “Right now, my vehicle is loaded but I am not going,” he said, adding that he had loaded his cargo by night. “We depart from Sindh, and the moment we enter Punjab, that’s when our troubles begin.”
Drivers stranded near Islamabad spoke of lost days of work and earnings. “If the roads open, our children’s livelihood will open up,” said Sagheer Ahmed, 51, who added that his children awaiting him at home relied on his earnings. “If not, we will just keep standing.”
Pakistan’s home, information, commerce and finance ministries did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Punjab police and the provincial home department also did not respond.
The former cricket star was jailed in 2023 after being ousted by parliament. All convictions but one have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. His party remains under state scrutiny that has suppressed participation in recent protests, however.
Frequently asked questions
Why are containers being seized in Pakistan?
Police are seizing shipping containers and trucks to build barricades on roads leading into Islamabad ahead of the PTI’s planned October 4 march demanding Imran Khan’s release. Containers packed with sand and welded together have lined the capital’s entry roads for weeks.
What is the PTI’s October 4 march about?
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf plans to march on Islamabad on October 4, postponed from September 27, to demand the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been in jail since 2023.
How much are the seizures costing transporters?
Demurrage on a single seized container can reach Rs30,000 to Rs40,000 a day ($110 to $150), plus losses from missed deliveries and idle trucks. Police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September, many held for days with little or no compensation.
Which routes are affected?
The disruption is hitting routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock. Some operators have stopped journeys beyond Gujranwala, and freight is piling up at the Karachi port, Pakistan’s main trade gateway.
