Textile industry warns indefinite goods transport strike could hit exports

• Goods transporters remain on an indefinite strike from August 8.
• Strike disrupts textile export shipments and cotton supplies.
• Textile mills face pressure as cotton stocks remain low.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s textile industry has urged the government to urgently resolve the indefinite goods transport strike, warning that prolonged disruption could affect exports, cotton supplies and mill operations.

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma), in a letter to Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, said the All Pakistan Goods Transport Ittehad had announced an indefinite strike from August 8, creating serious difficulties for the textile sector, The Newsreported on Monday.

Aptma Chairman Kamran Arshad said export containers, imported cotton containers and trucks required for transporting locally procured cotton were not available due to the strike. The disruption is directly affecting the shipment of textile exports, movement of imported cotton from ports and transportation of local cotton from markets to textile mills, the association said.

Aptma warned that cotton stocks held by mills were already low at the end of the season. Any prolonged delay in the movement of imported and local cotton could disrupt production and adversely affect exports, employment and the country’s foreign exchange earnings.

The association pointed out that similar disruptions in the past had resulted in delays in export shipments, financial losses and interruptions in mill operations. “Disruption of cargo movement has serious consequences for industry and exports,” the association said, urging the government to intervene immediately to resolve the transporters’ strike.

It also requested that the government facilitate the movement of export cargo, imported raw materials and locally procured cotton on a priority basis to prevent further disruption to industrial activity.

The textile sector is one of Pakistan’s major export-oriented industries, and any prolonged interruption in the supply of raw materials and movement of export consignments could add further pressure on the industry.

The association has therefore urged the Communications Ministry to take immediate steps to ensure the smooth movement of essential industrial cargo until the transport dispute is resolved.