National Highway Jammed, Industries in Jeopardy
Sukkur: The six-day continuous closure of the National Highway in Sindh has paralysed the country’s trade artery, and more than 3,500 containers—including export products, perishable goods, and important industrial raw materials—are stranded near Sukkur.
The Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) has expressed serious concern over the dire situation and warned that the closure of the highway is severely affecting local trade and industrial activities across the country. The disruption in the movement of goods has put the market’s supply line at risk, leading to a shortage of essential commodities.
According to an OICCI spokesperson, the halt in the supply of raw materials at Karachi Port is threatening various industries in the country. Exporters are losing the trust of international partners due to non-fulfillment of their deadlines, which could prove to be extremely detrimental to Pakistan’s export reputation.
The spokesperson warned that if this issue is not addressed immediately, it will not only lead to industrial closures and job losses but also severely impact long-term economic recovery efforts. At the same time, Pakistan’s global reputation as a trading hub will also suffer a setback.
The OICCI has called on the relevant Sindh administration and the federal government to take immediate steps to restore uninterrupted supply of goods, realizing the seriousness of the crisis. He said that a stable and fluid supply chain is the foundation of the country’s trade, exports and economic stability.
