Capital blockade chokes Karachi Port as 2,000 trucks seized for Oct 4 PTI march
Capital blockade chokes Karachi Port as 2,000 trucks seized for Oct 4 PTI march
KARACHI: Shipping containers are piling up at Karachi Port as truckers refuse to drive north, fearing their vehicles will be seized and used to barricade Islamabad ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march on October 4. The Karachi Port blockade is disrupting cargo movement across the country’s main trade gateway.
Truckers refuse to head north over seizure fears
Drivers say police have been seizing vehicles and taking their containers to block roads leading into the capital. Sand-filled containers have lined the roads into Islamabad for weeks in preparation for the march, which was postponed from September 27.
“Right now, going toward Punjab is like committing suicide,” said truck driver Javid ur Rehman, 35, who has stopped making the journey north. “The police seize the vehicles and snatch the containers, and then we are left distressed.”
Rana Mohammad Aslam, president of the Karachi Goods Carrier association, said authorities began stopping vehicles around September 5, weeks before the march’s original date. He said police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September, many of them still loaded with cargo and held for days with little or no compensation.
Pakistan’s home, information, commerce and finance ministries did not respond to requests for comment.
Karachi Port blockade hits cargo to Islamabad, Peshawar, Attock
Aslam said the disruption was affecting routes to Islamabad, the military city of Rawalpindi, and the cities of Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock. Some operators had halted journeys beyond Gujranwala in Punjab, while others took alternative routes.
The reluctance of truckers is leaving containers to pile up at Karachi, Pakistan’s main trade gateway. One operator, Pervaiz Khan, 50, said the risk was enough to keep a load of chemicals parked in Karachi. “Right now, my vehicle is loaded but I am not going,” he said. “We depart from Sindh, and the moment we enter Punjab, that’s when our troubles begin.”
Bills mount as demurrage charges pile up
The bills are mounting for transporters whose containers have been seized. Daily demurrage charges on one such container alone can run into Rs30,000 to Rs40,000, the association said, adding to losses from missed deliveries and idle trucks.
Consumer prices rose 10.26 per cent in September from a year earlier, while the transport price index climbed 27.43 per cent, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday. Transporters battling rising prices say they cannot afford to have trucks seized.
“If the roads open, our children’s livelihood will open up,” said driver Sagheer Ahmed, 51, whose children at home rely on his earnings. “If not, we will just keep standing.”
What happens next
The government has yet to respond to the transporters’ complaints. The PTI march is set for October 4, and truckers say cargo movement to the north will remain disrupted as long as the threat of seizure continues. If talks fail, the goods carriers’ association has warned of its own protest, which would deepen the disruption at the port.
Frequently asked questions
Why are containers piling up at Karachi Port?
Truckers are refusing to drive north because police are seizing their vehicles and containers to barricade roads into Islamabad ahead of the PTI march on October 4, leaving cargo stranded at the port.
How many vehicles have been seized?
The Karachi Goods Carrier association says police requisitioned more than 2,000 vehicles in September, many of them loaded with cargo and held for days with little or no compensation.
Which routes are affected?
Routes to Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Peshawar and Attock are affected. Some operators have halted journeys beyond Gujranwala in Punjab.
When is the PTI march scheduled?
The PTI long march is scheduled for October 4. It was originally set for September 27 and was postponed.
